'END PROHIBITION, GANGS DISAPPEAR'

The prohibition of street drugs creates a venue that supports gangs
and makes criminals rich. That's the message offered by Tony Smith, a
23-year veteran of Vancouver City Police.

He and retired provincial judge Jerry Paradis spoke at Tuesday night's
drug debate at Abbotsford's city hall, calling for the end to the
prohibition of street drugs such as heroin and marijuana.

They say drugs should be regulated by the government and taxed like
alcohol.

Both are members of LEAP, or Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, a
5,000-member organization of current and former judges, police
officers, lawyers and others in North America who support drug
regulation rather than prohibition. Their argument is that drugs are
too dangerous to be in the hands of criminals.

"Our idea is not pro-drug, but we've created a market for the
criminals. Basically, you end prohibition and gangs disappear," said
Smith, citing the fall of gangs when alcohol prohibition ended in the
United States.

Abbotsford police Chief Ian Mackenzie spoke for the other side of the
argument, which is maintain the status quo of using police enforcement
as the primary method of control.

The debate continues June 12 at city hall, with Paradis and Smith on
the panel again discussing options to prohibition.

They will face criminologist Darryl Plecas of University College of
the Fraser Valley. Plecas is the RCMP research chair in crime
reduction and an appointed director with UCFV's Centre for Criminal
Justice Research.

Event organizers Abbotsford lawyer John Conroy and marijuana activist
Tim Felger urge the public to attend.

The debate starts at 7 p.m. on June 12, at City Hall, at 32315 South
Fraser Way.