Legalise the drugs

If, as Attorney-General Peter Toyne says, "...there is a very strong link between property crime and drug use with about half of of all property crime directly related to the use of drugs...", then there is a simple solution. Legalise the drugs.

Addiction is an illness, whether it is also a crime depends on the law. Tobacco is legal and it is a dangerous drug of addiction. If drugs are harder to get they will become dearer, requiring addicts to commit more crime to pay for them, not fewer.

As for "...compulsory treatment of addicts arrested on drug-related crimes...", perhaps the Attorney-General should proceed to a conviction first.

What is the "sound drug prevention strategy"? Has it worked anywhere else?

Dr Toyne may be disturbed that there is clear evidence that drug distribution is organised but most of us would be surprised if it wasn't.

Col Friel
Alawa

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: 16th May 2002
Source: Northern Territory News
Author: Col Friel (letter to the editor)
Website: http://www.ntnews.com.au
Email: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Copyright: 2002 Northern Territory News