Pubdate: Sun, 20 Aug 2000 Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2000, Canoe Limited Partnership. Contact: 333 King St. E., Toronto, Ontario M5A 3X5 Canada Fax: (416) 947-3228 Website: http://www.canoe.ca/TorontoSun/ Forum: http://www.canoe.ca/Chat/newsgroups.html Author: Chris Buors, http://www.mapinc.org/writers/Chris+Buors Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n1158/a09.html Note: Title by newshawk, parenthetical remarks by Sun editor. WHO BENEFITS? LINDA WILLIAMSON has redeemed herself with acknowledging her source of information about marijuana was biased (Aug. 13). The proper place to go for information on any drugs is a pharmacologist. The ancient question, "qui bono?" - who benefits? - is the cornerstone of good journalism and good law. Police and the helping professions benefit from the war on drugs. It is yellow journalism going to those who benefit to ask for information, because what you get is indoctrination. Control language so that all non-medical use is abuse and we have a "drug problem." There is no scientific reason or argument to be made in controlling the drug-taking behaviour of citizens. Drug taking is a moral issue. Demonization and racist diatribe are the only arguments totalitarians have. The duty of government in a free country is to provide citizens with truthful information. In that duty our government has failed. Protecting people from themselves is called persecution. "Is the state my master or my servant?" is the only discourse that citizens need to deal with concerning drug-taking issues. Chris Buors, Winnipeg (Not protecting people from themselves - and others - is called anarchy) - --- MAP posted-by: Don Beck