CANADIAN TAX DOLLARS WASTED ON FRUITLESS ANTI-DRUG STRATEGIES

Chris Foulds' Aug. 29th column was right on target. Canadian tax
dollars are currently being wasted on anti-drug strategies that only
make marijuana growing more profitable.

In 2002, Canada's Senate offered a common-sense alternative when the
Special Committee on Illegal Drugs concluded that marijuana is
relatively benign, marijuana prohibition contributes to organized
crime, and law enforcement efforts have little impact on patterns of
use.

Consider the experience of Canada's southern neighbour, the former
land of the free and current record holder in citizens
incarcerated.

Based on findings that criminal records are inappropriate as health
interventions, a majority of European Union countries have
decriminalized marijuana. Despite marijuana prohibition and perhaps
because of forbidden fruit appeal, lifetime use of marijuana is higher
in the U.S. than any European country.

The short-term health effects of marijuana are inconsequential
compared to the long-term effects of criminal records.

Unfortunately, marijuana represents the counterculture to misguided
reactionaries intent on legislating their version of morality. Canada
should follow the lead of Europe and Just Say No to the American
Inquisition.

The results of a comparative study of European and U.S. rates of drug
use can be found at: http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/pubs/espad_pr.pdf

Robert Sharpe, MPA

Policy Analyst , Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, DC