'Many thought Prohibition was working when it first became law in the early 1920s.
Alcohol consumption did indeed drop in the first few years. When organized crime realized the profits that would be made by illegally supplying alcohol to customers, alcohol consumption increased, as did crime and corruption in high places.
"Prohibition removed a significant source of tax revenue and greatly increased government spending," wrote Thornton, the economics professor at Auburn University. "It led many drinkers to switch to opium, marijuana, patent medicines, cocaine, and other dangerous substances that they would have been unlikely to encounter in the absence of Prohibition."
If Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman could bring in the army to clear snow from Toronto streets in 1999, can't we expect at least as much effort to clean up an illegal operation that is raging out of control and growing exponentially across the country?' — Martin O'Malley, "Let the army bust the grow-ops", CBC News Viewpoint | March 04, 2005
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'The Canadian establishment should do more to end economic inequality between immigrants and mainstream society. It should spend more money on universities to make higher education affordable to youngsters.
The government should legalize the drug trade to end the profit that motivates the violence. And finally, the government should provide extra money for rehabilitation and de-addiction programs, rather than ripping away the social safety net in the name of ruthless economic reform.' — South Asian Post: Out Loud! With Gurpreet Singh - Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Once people in positions of power stop pointing their fingers at immigrants, university students, polydrug abusers, and other targets they attack through laws meant to protect their assets, it is up to charities to get the philanthropists out to help society at large.
For the gang problem is not addressed by strong enforcement of drug laws, but by their repeal!
Indeed, laws regarding criminal entrapment and undue search and seizure should be revised to better protect the rights of innocent parties.
This includes the use of the military only in relation to the sources of drug crime i.e. importation and trafficking, but not its use. For drug use is a health issue.
With regard to use, preventative measures should involve a gradual movement towards decriminalization with a strong incentive to introduce less harmful alternatives to illegal drugs.
The regular education campaigns against drug abuse and psychosis should be continued.
For drug addiction is a health issue.
Originally posted: 07/07/09 1:04 PM
Revised: 12/01/11 4:01 PM
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