CANADIANS LEAD THE WAY

Despite the overzealous reaction of the American drug czar, Canada's recent
push for sensible decriminalization policies gives hope to many U.S.
citizens, like myself, who are fighting a war we never declared.

Our casualty list is a poignant reflection of our national diversity. We
are sick patients denied access to medical cannabis while we wither away.
We are children shot in the crossfire between black market profiteers and
law enforcement officials.

We are innocent citizens killed by police in our own homes during faulty
drug raids. We are police officers tortured and murdered over black-market
profits. We are taxpayers who waste $40 billion annually to fight a war
that can never be won. We are people who die addicted or imprisoned because
most of our government resources are spent on law enforcement versus treatment.

After 30 years of perpetually escalating sentences and draconian policies,
we've lost more of our citizens here at home than we ever did in Iraq.

Despite this devastating human carnage, illegal drugs are still readily
available on any given street corner in America. This is the terrible
result of attempting to treat a public health problem as a criminal justice
issue.

I hope Canadian officials will protect their national autonomy and support
drug policy reform. The retroactive eye of history may regard them as
progressive innovators who took a courageous stand despite international
pressure.

Christopher Largen

Co-author of Prescription Pot (New Horizon Press)

Denton, Texas