NEW LEGISLATION NEEDED

Editor:

Re: New epidemic strikes young teens, Feedback, the Observer, April 29.

When one considers junk food will kill many times more Canadians than
all illegal drugs combined, it is difficult to think of meth as the
epidemic it has been hyped into. Obesity and diabetes are the real
epidemics in Canada, yet junk food is sold in many schools.

It should also be noted it is the government's criminal prohibition -
designed to keep drugs away from everyone - that is making drugs like
meth so easy for youth to access.

If these drugs were regulated and quality controlled, youth would
have far less access, and those that sought them out would at least
be using safer drugs.

If I am wrong, then, by that same logic, alcohol should be
re-criminalized, because it has been historically, scientifically,
and statistically proven to be one of the most dangerous drugs available.

For those keen on educating youth about drugs - without all the
fear-mongering, hyperbole, and absurd hypocrisy of the standard "drug
education" programs - I recommend the Educators For Sensible Drug
Policy Web site at www.efsdp.org.

Russell Barth

Ottawa