GET AFTER USER

Marijuana - Re: "Four Mounties shot dead," March 4.

The deaths of the RCMP officers highlight the foolish and futile approach
used to fight drugs. All the focus is on the supply side, yet everyone,
except government, knows that supply rises to meet demand. The government
has made it easier on users by reducing fines and sentences, and proposing
decriminalizing possession of small amounts. The effect of these measures
is more demand and more supply.

The only way to stop the drug trade is to eliminate demand; that means
going after the users, not the suppliers. This is also less dangerous. If
there is no demand for drugs, the supply will dry up on its own.

If the government has no stomach for going after users, then it may as well
legalize the stuff and tax it because it will be here to stay.

How many more people will have to get hurt and die before folks realize the
obvious? If you are going to fight only the supply side, you will lose. If
buying the stuff isn't a crime, then you would think selling wouldn't be,
either. Confused and inconsistent approaches never work.

Barry McIntyre,

Calgary