Pubdate: Fri, 19 Jan 2001
Source: Nunatsiaq News (Canada)
Copyright: 2001 Nortext Publishing Corporation
Contact:  Box 8, Iqaluit, NT XOA OHO Canada
Fax: (867) 979-4763
Website: http://www.nunatsiaq.com/
Forum: http://www.nunanet.com/politics/index.html

POT IS EVEN GOOD FOR PMS

I am writing today to address a couple of issues I feel need to be
addressed by Nunavummiut and the RCMP. Please don't publish my name.

The issues are alcohol and drugs. As we all know, these affect us in
the communities. I am of course concerned, but I feel I must state
something I predict will happen: since the RCMP have sniff dogs now,
already in the past week, in my community, booze has increased
significantly.

Why? Different reasons for different people. But, it will get worse!
If the cops try putting more control on the drugs, the booze will only
replace them...happenning right now.

I know booze does more damage than pot. If you listen to the news, you
know most of the reported charges filed by the cops are usually
alcohol-related, like drunk driving, being violent, even murder. I
know a lot of people smoke pot and they don't get violent, they get
relaxed instead. The RCMP is only going to have more phone calls to
attend to rising violence, accidents and so on.

Why are they wasting money and time by trying to enforce a natural
wonder upon us, which is a herb, a plant which actually helps many
people?

I know for myself, if there was no pot at hand, my PMS would triple!
My cramps would be much worse, and I'm not alone. A lot of people in
Nunavut enjoy this natural medicinal plant God gave us.

Alcohol is in comparison. Why not get special dogs to sniff out booze
since it causes many disturbing problems? Why not legalize marijuana
or at least give us some slack? Marijuana users everywhere are trying
to make a point that it is not harmful. Cigarettes have more chemicals
that kill a lot of people every year.

Are people ever going to realize that booze is far more dangerous? I
ask Nunavummiut to start a petition or something in regards to this
matter, or somebody is going to get hurt again... bootlegging is
already more evident in my "dry" community.

(Name withheld by request)

Pangnirtung
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