An excellent article by Ass. Professor Dr Anthea McCarthy-Jones (Canberra Times, Drug cartels a new danger, Times 2, p1, May 23). However, it dealt purposefully with law enforcement, with scant mention of the important role of health and social policy aspects of illicit drugs.
A larger demand for illegal drugs in Australia reflects not only increased affluence but an ineffective policy. Overall, anti-gun laws in America have been weakened in the past 30 years despite a simmering national resentment against a gun death toll of about thirty thousand annually. The National Rifle Association’s support for Donald Trump will certainly exacerbate the problem.
Australia’s story with drugs ( and many would say with guns) has been much the same. Drugs and drug use are shunned as a NIMBY, but if that’s the case, they are virtually everywhere else.
Every kilogram of toxic drugs can be likened to an illegal firearm. Very few in this country want laws against guns eased, so why are drug elites pushing governments and politicians to do that with prohibiting laws on drugs, and their use ? Let’s not go down the Donald Trump gun path with drugs.
Colliss Parrett
Drug Advisory Council Australia
24/43 Blackall Street
Barton A.C.T. 2600
6273 5505
