Well-known gangster shot dead in Mexico, April 29

The brutal shooting death of B.C. gangster Thomas Gisby in a Starbucks in the Mexican resort town of Nuevo Vallarta certainly stemmed from the never-ending violence in that country’s drug war.

Canadians should face the facts. Illicit drugs are the cause of the gang violence in this country, the United States, Mexico and many other countries. Illicit drugs have been with us forever and will be with us long into the future. The so-called war on drugs, at an outrageous economic and social cost, will simply not reduce the flow into and use of illegal drugs in these countries.

As such it is now time to consider the alternative — namely, approaching this matter on a national basis as a health concern and not a criminal issue. Is decriminalization, so often discussed in the past, the way to the future? Are governments and citizens up to this challenge?

If nothing else, similar to cigarette and alcohol beverage taxes, think of the revenues that would accrue to all levels of governments, in Canada alone — most likely in the hundreds of millions of dollars year in and year out.

This is not to suggest that legalizing illegal drugs would be risk and problem free. But that said, it is now time to deprive drug lords, organized crime and narcostates of the huge, tax-free profits realized from illicit drug use.

For pecuniary reasons alone, should this has now become a national priority and an excellent opportunity for the Harper government to show leadership on the world stage.

Emile Therien, Ottawa