Pubdate: Wed, 27 Dec 2000
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: The Vancouver Sun 2001
Contact:  200 Granville Street, Ste.#1, Vancouver BC V6C 3N3
Fax: (604) 605-2323
Website: http://www.vancouversun.com/
Author: Ken Lane

POT IS A 'GATEWAY DRUG'

On Dec. 16, The Sun ran an article about the tragedy of overdose victim
Richard Urquhart (Overdose victim's family calls for action on drugs). But
then it took a light-hearted photo feature approach to a recently released
"pothead" movie (Dude, where's my car, Mix). The paper's readers would have
been better served if the time was taken to look in to and report on the
drug-using history of overdose victims.

Marijuana is known as the gateway drug for good reason, and if we cease to
underestimate its physiological and psychological impact, we'll start
reducing the numbers of overdose victims in the future. And given your
paper's crusade together with the Mayors four pillar drug strategy, starting
to take marijuana very seriously would be just what the doctor ordered.

Ken Lane, Victoria
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