Pubdate: Fri, 24 Feb 2012
Source: Vancouver Courier (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Vancouver Courier
Contact:  http://www.vancourier.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/474
Author: Terry McKinney
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n131/a02.html
Cited: VANDU: http://www.vandu.org/

LETTER OF THE WEEK

To the editor:

Re: "Pro-dope VANDU doesn't deserve taxpayer money," Feb. 15.

I understand that the Courier is a small paper with limited 
resources. I also understand that controversy sells. Mark Hasiuk 
wrote a hatchet job about a group about which he knows what anyone 
would reading local media. The use of the word "manifesto" to explain 
the group's mission statement was typical of the hysterical hyperbole 
that filled the article.

There have been addicts in Vancouver long before VANDU and as a group 
they have been beaten, persecuted, imprisoned and killed in efforts 
to "help" them see the error of their ways.

VANDU provides this group with a voice and allows the community a 
place to go to ask questions about recent events in that community. 
They have done a lot to help institute harm reduction measures that 
try to keep addicts alive until they decide to quit. Vancouver's 
treatment of addicts is lauded world wide, even though our current 
federal government attacks us constantly at huge expense to Canadian taxpayers.

The prohibition model is about 100 years old and has been a total 
disaster, spreading drug use and addictions world wide. Not 
surprising as drugs have been in use for thousands of years. VANDU 
worked for years for free-$250,000 is a very small amount for all the 
good this group does. You may not agree with what they do, but they 
have done nothing to make the situation worse and much to change 
things for the better.

Of course the hard-core prohibitionist thinks Hasiuk is right and 
that drug laws are there to protect the public. Nothing could be 
further from the truth. Drug laws are deeply rooted in racism and 
evangelical Christianity. A little research would make that, at 
least, crystal clear.

Terry McKinney,

Vancouver
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