RIDICULOUS COMPARISON MADE IN WAR ON DRUGS EDITORIAL

The Editor,

Your recent editorial (Sept.17) about the new safe injection site in
Vancouver was full of specious arguments designed, apparently, to
perpetuate this racist, ineffective "War on [Some] Drugs".

The editorial said, "This is like setting up a place to give crooks a
buffet of things, but before they go we'll give them a pamphlet saying
why it is wrong to steal and give them a card of a counselor."

This is a ridiculous comparison, but one used far too often. The
difference is drug users only damage themselves and thieves take from
others.

Before prohibition, before the values of these entheobotanical plants
was driven higher per ounce than gold, drug-related crimes didn't
exist and those who had a problem could go to their doctors for help.
Now we throw them in jail, treat them like animals, and deride any
solution that seeks to lessen the harm caused by prohibition.

What an "accepting" and "modern" society we're reverting
into.

ADAM SCRIVEN

Burnaby, B.C.