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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Drugs, Crime and the Law
LCA LCA Manifesto
Sunday 13 Aug 2000 or abuse or addiction, and to crime. We suggest that the legalisation of cannabis would almost immediately sever these linkages. It is prohibition that has pushed cannabis into the same category as dangerous drugs, these being available sometimes from the same supplier. The suppliers, motivated solely by un-taxable profit, are in a position to facilitate and encourage experimentation: they provide the 'gateway' from one type of substance to another. The other gateway is peer pressure, the influence of friends and acquaintances. But in either case, to hold cannabis smoking responsible for the smoking of more dangerous drugs, on the ground that the former may precede the latter, is quite illogical. True, it sometimes does precede. But it's equally true to say that, in the history of users, both kinds of smoking are often preceded by the smoking of tobacco, and for that matter the consumption of alcohol, substances immeasurably more addictive than cannabis. To punish a cannabis user because others take heroin is like punishing a child who uses a water pistol because others later, in acts of robbery, use guns. The connection between illegal drugs and crime is undeniable, not only because the drugs are illegal, as is the trade, but also because of crimes sometimes committed to get the money to pay for drugs, and because of the types of crimes that go with illegal drug-dealing - from fraud to murder. Again, the cause of all this is money -the profits created, ironically enough, by prohibition itself. Certainly, it makes sense to punish people for acts that victimise others, but why punish people for acts that do not? The user of a drug who commits no other crime than using the drug is in no way deserving of punishment. If he or she needs help, they should be helped not punished; those who need no help should be left alone, and protected. Neither end is achieved by prohibition. If cannabis were legalised, police would be freed to chase criminals - real criminals: and the pressure on our prisons and courts would be eased in proportion. The single, most urgent, and potentially effective step that can be taken, immediately, to reduce crime is to legalise cannabis. TAKEN FROM CANNABIS: LEGALISE AND UTILISE A MANIFESTO AND INFORMATION DOCUMENT ISBN 0-9535693-1-4 Produced and published by: The Legalise Cannabis Alliance Price £5.00 http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0953569314/webbooks05 Printed, published & promoted by the Legalise Cannabis Alliance, PO Box 2883, Stoke-on_Trent, ST4 9EE
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