ARNASON WANTS DRUGS FOR ADDICTS

A Langley Township councillor thinks that giving addicts illegal drugs
under a doctor's supervision will stem the tide of drug-driven crime.

Muriel Arnason wants illegal drugs given away free to drug addicts.

That move, she said, would help quell the crime that surrounds the
drug trade.

Drugs should be free, the Township Councillor said during Monday
night's council meeting, after a presentation from ICBC on its loss
prevention auto crime campaign in the Fraser Valley.

The goal of the ICBC campaign is to reduce the number of thefts from
cars, said Leanne Kassap, the insurance company's Loss Prevention
Coordinator for the Fraser Valley.

The campaign will encourage car owners not to leave items visible in
their vehicles, to lock their vehicles, and to educate car owners
about auto crime and how they can protect themselves.

Arnason said that free drugs would calm down the crime.

"As long as people feel there's no access to drugs" they will get
their hands on money, Arnason said, "no matter how."

"That's the easiest way - they can get a car," she said.

Mayor Kurt Alberts told Arnason that he didn't think it was fair to
ask Kassap to comment on legalizing illegal drugs.

Arnason said Tuesday that, while the idea may not be popular, she
believes illegal drugs should be given to addicts by their doctors.

At the same time, she suggested, the addicts would go on a program to
help wean them off the drugs.

That way the profit motive for growing, making, and selling drugs
would be taken away, Arnason said.

"It would stop the dealers, and the dealers push it," she said.

The current way of dealing with drug addicts is not working, she
said.

"You've got to deal with reality - it isn't working," she said.
"You've got to look at it differently."