LEGALIZATION WOULD SOLVE WAR ON DRUGS

Earlier this week I had a chance to sit in on a presentation by
Vancouver-Burrard MLA Lorne Mayencourt about a successful project that
helps drug addicts and homeless people -- San Patrignano in Italy.

San Patrignano is self-contained self-sustaining community where 2,200
recovering addicts will spend up to five years there to get better.

Mayencourt described it as a wonderful place filled with love that has
a 75 per cent success rate.

Mayencourt would like to see a community like it tried in
B.C.

He said the current way addicts are treated just isn't
working.

I applaud Mayencourt's interest in the issue and believe he is sincere
in wanting to help the thousands who struggle with addiction.

I also applaud his 'outside the box' thinking when it comes to
addiction issues, because the current way really isn't working.

While San Patrignano sounds like a nice place, I can't help but think
it will further isolate people struggling with addiction. But I see it
as a band-aid solution.

The time for a complete overhaul in how society views drugs and
addiction is long overdue.

The war on drugs has been a useless exercise that has ruined countless
people's lives, and their families with no results.

Complete legalization of all drugs is the only way to fix the
problem.

Instead of spending millions of dollars to fight drugs, the government
can produce drugs themselves, eliminating the turf wars which continue
to rage.

Why should drug dealers be the only ones to get all the
profits?

The government could take that money along with the money it would
save from having less police enforcement, and spend it on a whole
bunch of different things, such as healthcare, education or things for
youth to do -- which is likely why youth try drugs in the first place.

Legalizing drugs would make it harder for youth to get their hands on
them.

Currently with alcohol and cigarettes, youth need to present I.D. to
buy these products.

I don't think there are too many drug dealers asking for
identification.

I don't use drugs, and I don't condone them, and I certainly believe
they're dangerous.

But I'm not blind to what's going on around all of
us.

It doesn't make sense to chase people around and tell them to stop
doing drugs -- it's a battle no one can win.

Each day that passes I can't help but wonder how many more lives will
be ruined over the war on drugs, before a real change takes place.

Jeremy Deutsch is a reporter with the Quesnel Cariboo
Observer.