>Sender: >To: >X-Original-Message-ID: <014701bf26fc$b8bea860$9acf69cf@pacbell.net> >From: "Peter McWilliams" >Subject: more clear Canadian thought >Date: Thu, 4 Nov 1999 11:42:26 -0800 >X-Mozilla-Status: 8001 >X-Mozilla-Status2: 00000000 > > >Pubdate: Mon 01 Nov 1999 >Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB) >Copyright: 1999 Calgary Herald >Contact: letters@theherald.southam.ca >Address: P.O. Box 2400, Stn. M, Calgary, Alberta T2P 0W8 >Fax: (403) 235-7379 >Website: http://www.calgaryherald.com/ >Forum: http://forums.canada.com/~calgary >Author: Matthew M. Elrod > >THE WAR ON DRUGS HAS FAILED > >Your editorial tried, but failed, to define the arbitrary line you >draw between tobacco, alcohol and other,recreational substances. You >will never convince anyone that people drink rice cooking wine for the >flavour. > >Alcohol kills more people, on a per user basis, than all illicit >substances combined. > >Despite what you believe, tobacco is psychoactive. Between sloth and >obesity and car accidents, cigarettes are a leading preventable cause >of death. > >What message will illicit drug regulation send to my >children? > >They understand why I do not permit them to drive, smoke, drink, stay >up late or eat too much Halloween candy. > >Drug regulation will send the message that adults are consistent; That >adults learn from their mistakes; That after waging a losing war on >our own citizenry for over 60 years we are wise enough to finally >implement the recommendations of every major study on drug control. >Drug regulation will put the crooks out of business, get the drugs out >of our schools and reinforce the message that some forms of >entertainment are for consenting adults. > >There are myriad legal activities I would rather my children avoid - >watching Jerry Springer comes to mind - but I do not expect society >to prohibit these activities on my behalf. > >Please stop wasting my tax dollars building prisons and criminalizing >otherwise law abiding adults to send a message to my children. > >Do this parent a favour and spend the drug war budget on schools, >community centres, parks and recreation areas instead. > >Matthew M. Elrod >Victoria, B.C. > > > >================================================================ > >This message is sent to you because you are subscribed to > the mailing list . >To unsubscribe, E-mail to: