DEBATE NEEDED

The comments by six citizens interviewed about the recent toughening of
cannabis laws in the ACT (The Chronicle March 8, p 3) is typical of any
discussion about illegal drugs. It is mostly one sided and born of
ignorance with calls for tougher laws in the expectation that this will
either stop the trafficking or stop people using. This response comes even
though very tough drug laws introduced in the past have never achieved any
of these things. This ignorance is not necessarily the fault of those
interviewed but rather because the other side of the debate is rarely
allowed to be heard.

What is desperately needed is an open, honest and rational debate which
addresses issues like the part played by the huge black market profits, the
consequences of a criminal record for young people, the effects of school
expulsions for drug use, and the alienation of families caused by the
current drug laws as well as the illusory effect of the huge drug busts.

Most importantly, what is required is for our law and policy makers to
seriously consider implementing alternative laws and policies that will
effectively reduce the use of and harm from drugs. Until that is done we
will continue, as Albert Einstein once defined insanity "doing the same
thing over and over again and expecting different results".

M McConnell

Higgins