Maggy

Pragmatism dictates that we have to rethink how we deal with drugs and addiction.

We can't afford the situation as it is now.It costs more and more to even keep pace with the present situation which all the anti drugs agencies admit that they are only controlling the tip of the iceberg.

Frankly what people want to do with their own bodies is not my concern.They will do it with or without my approval or disapproval.What is my concern is how much taxpayers money is being spent on a pointless exercise and war we can NEVER win.
That it is certain that removing the criminality from the situation WILL reduce the associated crime that surrounds the illegal trade in drugs.Licensed drugs that aren't adulterated and are at a reasonable price will mean that users won't have to turn to crime to feed their addiction.Addiction clinics can be provided from the customs and excise duty that the government could collect as they currently do from tobacco.Plus the tax that can be raised from legitimate growers,producers of said drugs would add to the country's tax coffers.

And yes we need to protect children but we already have to so in regards to alcohol and tobacco so that's an argument not worth making as education is the real answer to controlling addiction.

Mind what do I know..I've never felt the need to smoke or take drugs and alcohol is not a vice for me.All the above is my observations after years of watching others and reading up on the subject..maybe I am simplifying it.But when a senior policeman thinks it's a viable idea and previous drug consultants have suggested it I think it is time to really place it on the agenda for discussion because we are NOT winning the war on drugs.