Based on a 2009 drug use survey by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, it is estimated that more than 60,000 Ontario students, in Grades 7 through 12, smoke contraband tobacco. The main reason is price. Purchased from convenience stores willing to break the law or even street dealers selling from car trunks, 200 illicit cigarettes generally cost about $15. The price for the same number of legal cigarettes is $50 to $55. Studies have shown that high prices pose an effective barrier between kids and tobacco use. Easily available black market cigarettes have lowered that barrier in Ontario. The consequences to young people and society at large – could hardly be more serious. Most smokers start before they turn 20. Those unable to kick the habit face highly elevated rates of lung cancer and heart disease. To fix this problem, the Government is paying more funding towards the police department to better restrict illicit cigarettes.
Though I do believe this is a good idea, I don't think it will be a successful campaign. Stores that sell cigarettes check for ID, whereas illegal dealers are only in for the profit. If the government could truly remove all illegal dealers, the problem would be solved. This, however, is only a false hope. Similar campaigns to eliminate illegal cigarettes have ended unsuccessfully. There will always be illegal activity in community; it cannot be stopped completely. You cannot expect the police to find every single dealer in the province, and even if this were possible, they would soon be replaced other illegal dealers. I don't believe banning cigarettes all together would work either, because people will always find a way to go around the law. Illegal cigarettes presents itself as a major problem in Canada's youth, with seemingly no possible solutions.
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/726168--illegal-cigarettes-can-t-be-ignored
I am on your side with your argument even though this is a city wide problem in Ontario, it really seems as if there is no possible way to end the illegal sale of drugs and cigarettes. To remove all the drug dealers you would have to search every household for drugs. It seems that this will be an ongoing situation forever as the possibility of catching illegal drugs dealers seems like a very big task. Plus other situations such as murders will have higher priority over this.
ReplyDelete