c-ray
04-27-2006, 04:30 AM
Press Release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2006
Ottawa -- The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse has released a report, "The Costs of Substance Abuse in Canada," which puts an estimate on the costs of substance abuse in 2002 at $39.8 billion.
National Capital Reformers, an Ottawa-based group of concerned citizens looking at alternatives to the drug war, believes this may give the public a misleading picture.
While the CCSA breaks down the costs of tobacco and alcohol, when it comes to so-called "illegal drugs" (which account for $8.2 billion, or 20.7% of this cost) we simply do not know the impact of marijuana, be it for medical or social purpose. Quoting from the highlights of the study: "Illegal drugs - The study looked at all illegal drug use, including cannabis, cocaine and crack, and opioids such as heroin and other injection drugs."
"We certainly hope that prohibitionist interest groups, like police unions or socially conservative think tanks, will not use this report a ammunition to call for pot laws even tougher than Stephen Harper is proposing, said Tim Meehan of the National Capital Reformers. "It is incomplete, and it really doesn't give a true picture of the costs. The highest costs related to marijuana are actually the futile efforts to eradicate it."
"Science has shown that marijuana is not a gateway drug, it is not addictive like crystal meth, and lumping it in with other drugs such as cocaine, crack and heroin is disingenuous,' said Meehan.
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For Further Information: Tim Meehan, 613-230-1937 /
tmeehan@connect.carleton.ca
CCSA Study:
http://www.ccsa.ca/NR/rdonlyres/18F3415E-2CAC-4D21-86E2-CEE549EC47A9/0/ccsa0113322006.pdf
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2006
Ottawa -- The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse has released a report, "The Costs of Substance Abuse in Canada," which puts an estimate on the costs of substance abuse in 2002 at $39.8 billion.
National Capital Reformers, an Ottawa-based group of concerned citizens looking at alternatives to the drug war, believes this may give the public a misleading picture.
While the CCSA breaks down the costs of tobacco and alcohol, when it comes to so-called "illegal drugs" (which account for $8.2 billion, or 20.7% of this cost) we simply do not know the impact of marijuana, be it for medical or social purpose. Quoting from the highlights of the study: "Illegal drugs - The study looked at all illegal drug use, including cannabis, cocaine and crack, and opioids such as heroin and other injection drugs."
"We certainly hope that prohibitionist interest groups, like police unions or socially conservative think tanks, will not use this report a ammunition to call for pot laws even tougher than Stephen Harper is proposing, said Tim Meehan of the National Capital Reformers. "It is incomplete, and it really doesn't give a true picture of the costs. The highest costs related to marijuana are actually the futile efforts to eradicate it."
"Science has shown that marijuana is not a gateway drug, it is not addictive like crystal meth, and lumping it in with other drugs such as cocaine, crack and heroin is disingenuous,' said Meehan.
-30-
For Further Information: Tim Meehan, 613-230-1937 /
tmeehan@connect.carleton.ca
CCSA Study:
http://www.ccsa.ca/NR/rdonlyres/18F3415E-2CAC-4D21-86E2-CEE549EC47A9/0/ccsa0113322006.pdf