GATEWAY IS THE RESULT OF FLAWED POLICY

How should Calgary respond to the growing use of crack cocaine?
("Descent to despair," Mike D'Amour, Oct. 25.)

Here in the U.S., New York City chose the zero tolerance approach
during the crack epidemic of the '80s. Meanwhile, Washington, D.C.
Mayor Marion Barry was smoking crack and America's capital had the
highest per capita murder rate in the country. Yet crack use declined
in both cities simultaneously. The decline was not due to a slick
anti-drug advertising campaign or mandatory minimum sentencing laws.

Simply put, the younger generation saw firsthand what crack was doing
to their older brothers and sisters and decided for themselves crack
was bad news. This is not to say nothing can be done. Access to drug
treatment is critical for the current generation of crack users.

In order to protect future generations, policymakers need to adopt the
Canadian Senate's common sense proposal to tax and regulate marijuana.
As long as marijuana remains in the hands of organized crime,
consumers will continue to come into contact with hard drugs.

This "gateway" is the result of flawed policy.

Drug policy reform may send the wrong message to children, but I like
to think the children are more important than the message.

Robert Sharpe,

Washington, D.C.

(Making marijuana available to counteract the impact of crack is a
dopey idea, Bob.)