Pubdate: Fri, 09 Sep 2005 Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC) Copyright: 2005 Times Colonist Contact: http://www.canada.com/victoria/timescolonist/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481 Authors: Eleanor Randell, and Alan Randell Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1449/a07.html?113443 LEGAL DRUGS WOULD BE SAFER Re: "Ecstasy death sends a lesson," Sep. 8. A few lessons you missed: 1. Street drugs are ALWAYS more dangerous than drugs that are legally available and produced in government-inspected facilities by knowledgeable and experienced people. Illegal alcohol poisoned and blinded thousands before Prohibition was ended. 2. The police will never tell us this because if we were aware of this basic truth and legalized drugs, we would be able to fire thousands of police officers. On the contrary, the police make use of tragic deaths such as this one to convince us that the drug problem is getting even worse and that we should respond by providing even more police funding. Twelve and a half years ago, our son, Peter, died after ingesting some street heroin. Eleanor and Alan Randell, Saanich. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom