DON'T BLAME DRUG USERS

Re: Unclean Hands, letter to the editor, Jan. 3.

Letter writer Peter Strachan states that people who use drugs are
partly responsible for the tragic death of Jane Creba because they
create the demand that leads to gangs controlling the drug trade.
This narrow focus needs to be widened. The gang that is responsible
for the most death, mayhem and misery arising from drug use collect
their protection money every week from your paycheque -- this gang is
our own government.

Alcohol and tobacco are responsible for far more deaths each year
than all illegal drugs combined. By outlawing some drugs and
legalizing others, this elected gang of ours automatically creates
the black market that will be serviced by other smaller gangs that
weren't voted into office. The most effective way to get rid of the
smaller gangs is to legalize and control all drugs.

And while we're at it, let's legalize prostitution as well, to take
advantage of that income stream.

In closing, it is not so much the recreational drug users that bear
the responsibility in Jane's death -- they did not create and
maintain the environment of illegality around drugs. That burden
falls directly upon the shoulders of the elected gang in Ottawa.

Victor Daveikis

Waterloo, Ont.