Let's talk about drugs

Regarding Alison Bezzina’s column entitled Let’s talk about drugs (TMIS, 13 July), the global drug war is largely a war on cannabis, by far the most popular illicit drug. There is a big difference between condoning cannabis use and protecting children from drugs. Decriminalisation acknowledges the social reality of cannabis and frees users from the stigma of life-shattering criminal records. What is really needed is a regulated market with age controls.

Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical. As long as organised crime controls cannabis distribution, consumers will continue to come into contact with sellers of hard drugs like cocaine and heroin. This ‘gateway’ is a direct result of cannabis prohibition.

Cannabis is easily less harmful than legal alcohol. The plant has never been shown to cause a death by overdose. It makes no sense to waste limited public resources on failed cannabis prohibitions that finance organised crime and facilitate the use of hard drugs. Drug policy reform may send the wrong message to children, but I like to think the children are more important than the message.

Robert Sharpe, MPA

Policy Analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington DC

Source

Let's talk about drugs