Bad Drugs Are Bad

Dear Editor:

Re: Stiffer penalties urged for marijuana growers, Dec. 11 edition.

Will this torrent of prohibitionist claptrap from our media never
end?

Let's get a few things straight about drugs. Nearly all the harm done
to users and non-users alike by illegal drugs is because drugs are
prohibited.

Thousands were poisoned by adulterated booze during prohibition.
Thousands more are dying today because of adulterated drugs, an aspect
of government policy my wife and I became well acquainted with when
our 19-year-old son, Peter, died shortly after ingesting some street
heroin in 1993.

Besides, no government has the right to punish anyone for ingesting
anything, however harmful.

Alan Randell

Victoria, B.C.