DRUG USE SHOULDN'T BE CRIMINAL OFFENCE

Re: Crime never too insignificant for police to pursue, letter by Hugo T.
Kroon, April 11.

Hugo T. Kroon misses the point when he says those who oppose law
enforcement's futile war on drugs are opening the door to crime. He
suggests the use of illegal drugs simply cannot be stopped by police
and it is a waste of our stretched resources to try.

However, a far more important point is drug use ought not to be in the
Criminal Code in the first place. If it is a social problem at all,
then it is a public health problem.

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, a North American group including
police officers and judges, is seeking to insert some sanity into the
discussion from the viewpoint of people who must deal with this
problem daily.

John Gayder, a police officer in St. Catharines, says: "The sooner we
legalize drugs, the sooner the price will go down and addicts won't
have to break into houses to pay their dealers."

Gil Pudner, an 18-year veteran of Vancouver police, adds, "The
windfall savings on law enforcement dollars could be plowed back into
health care, education and rehabilitation, which are the only methods
proven to correct substance abuse."

These officers and the 1,000 other members of Law Enforcement Against
Prohibition do not want organized crime to profit from drugs; they
want to take drugs out of the hands of organized crime.

Only then will we be able to control drugs, avoid the decline in
residential real estate values as was detailed in The Liberal's April
11 story, Home buyers warned of effects of marijuana grow operations,
and reduce drug abuse.

Elena Smith

Richmond Hill