PROHIBITION IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE

RE : "HIV only winner in useless drug war," July 27. Perhaps it's our
politicians -- not our drug addicts -- who should be in jail, writes
Mindelle Jacobs. Prohibition is the perfect litmus test for any
politician: if you cannot fathom the Grade-three level math required
to understand that prohibition is counterproductive, then you should
not be allowed to vote, let alone hold office. But -- worse than
stupid -- prohibitionists are like religious fanatics. They will
ignore any and all data that doesn't fit their belief, and accuse
anyone who doesn't agree with them of "wanting to legalize murder and
rape, too". Seriously. Ontario Provincial Police Chief Julian Fantino
actually said that once.

Russell Barth,
Ottawa

(Public opinion on this seems thoroughly behind Mindy.)