The Key to Criminal Justice Reform: Ending Drug Prohibition

David Bratzer

The modern War on Drugs has continued for roughly forty years and yet victory remains distant. Despite decades of heavy enforcement, today illegal drugs are cheaper, stronger and more available than ever before. In recent years, the Canadian government has tried to follow the United States by legislating minimum jail sentences for certain drug offences. First there was bill C-26, then bill C-15 and now bill S-10. There is no evidence to prove these mandatory sentences will reduce drug trafficking, but there is evidence to suggest that increased drug enforcement will result in higher levels of black market violence. In this context it becomes clear that gradually ending drug prohibition is the key to criminal justice reform. Only then can we regulate the consensual adult behaviour surrounding drug use, refocus scarce law enforcement resources and ultimately address the serious problem of drug addiction in our society.