cannabisnews.com: The War Against The War On Drugs The War Against The War On Drugs Posted by FoM on October 19, 1999 at 07:35:03 PT Upcoming TV Program Source: CBC News Since 1982 when Ronald Reagan declared war on drugs, the international trade in black-market drugs has grown to a $600 billion industry. Stopping Traffik, a documentary about which profiles the social movement against the war on drugs, airs Thursday, October 21 at 8 p.m. on WITNESS. Like alcohol Prohibition in the 1920s, efforts to stamp out illegal drugs have been an abysmal failure says a coalition of outspoken cops, wealthy businessmen, social activists and medical people who have launched a campaign to repeal Drug Prohibition. Stopping the traffic in human misery lies in treating addiction as a medical problem, not a crime, they contend. Some believe drugs should be "decriminilized" or even legalized under strict government control. Amongst the group’s most vocal advocates are front line cops. For Constable Gil Puder, an 18 year veteran of the Vancouver Police Department, time and experience have altered his perceptions. “Drug prohibition does exactly the opposite of what it was intended to do. Drug prohibition creates violence; it creates more addicts; it creates more dysfunction in society,” he says. Multi-billionaire businessman George Soros, who has donated more than $30 million to the cause, organized a petition calling for the end of the drug war, which he presented to the United Nations. He explains, “I’m not a drug user or legalizer, I just say that the war on drugs is doing more harm than good.” From Vancouver, said to be “awash in drugs” despite major enforcement policies, Stopping Traffik heads to European cities where the problem is being tackled differently. In Liverpool, heroin addicts can get their drugs from the local pharmacy, prescribed by a doctor and paid for by the national medicare system. The spread of HIV has been stopped in its tracks – Liverpool claims to have the lowest rate of AIDS infection in Europe. In Switzerland, a government sanctioned medical experiment has shown that addicts, given a steady, clean supply of heroin, voluntarily stabilized or reduced their dosage. Crime among the users dropped dramatically, employment increased, physical health improved and there were no deaths from overdoses. Similar experiments are underway in Holland, Spain, Denmark and Germany. Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by LuckyDuck00 on April 24, 2002 at 14:25:45 PT Read I think that some drugs should be legalized such as cannibus but some shouldnt be such as heroin. I dont see any harm with cannibus it really doesnnt do anything to your body and its completly safe.. some sites even say that eating 10 raw potatoes are worse for you then cannibus is. The government should worry about worse things then drugs like murderers, terrorism, rapists, and the environment. I think cannibus should be legal because it is natural and was created on earth to be used in some way. If this drug is illegal why isnt codeine, morphine, and nicotine, that is just as bad. I see why heroin is illegal because it can kill people, can be addicting, and you can get HIV by using needles. But the only point im making is that some drugs should be legal and you should do more resaerch on what your saying because everything people say abut cannibus being bad for you is a bunch of bull because its not. Thanks for reading this i hope you take these thoght into consideration. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Andrew on October 20, 1999 at 16:50:43 PT: CBC Documentary, "Stopping Traffik" It'll be interesting to see what this program has to sayabout legalization issues in Canada. For anyone who isinterested in the broader legalization debate/ ie;"Ending the war on drugs", a good place to start is;Richard Miller's, "The Case for Legalizing Drugs".It's a very well written book, with plenty of factualinfo from many respected scientific sources. Happy Trails. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on October 20, 1999 at 13:08:33 PT I Wish I Got The Channel Yes you're right Tom! Good to see you. This is an exciting time to be involved in drug policy reform.Peace, FoM! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Tom Paine on October 19, 1999 at 22:18:48 PT Canadians kick butt and take names! From page 100 of the 1998 book "Drug Crazy" by Mike Gray:"In June of 1982, Reagan reopened the War on Drugs with abroadside from the Rose Garden. 'We're taking down thesurrender flag that has flown over so many drug efforts.We're running up a battle flag.'"---http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n840.a11.html*8-99. Ireland: OPED: Drugs War Invented By Nixon To Extend His Power.|---http://www.cannabis.com/linkscgi/#research POWER LINKS. [INTERNATIONAL. Saner Cannabis and Drug Policies Worldwide.] [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: