Pubdate: Sat, 24 Nov 2001
Source: Burnaby Now, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2001 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.burnabynow.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1592
Author: Alan Randall
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n1926/a11.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

QUESTIONS FOR COLUMNIST

Editor:

Re: "Growing pot costs taxpayers," Nov. 15

A few questions for your self-styled drug expert, Bill McCarthy:

1. What evidence can you bring forward to support your contention that all 
users of illegal drugs are unemployed?

2. What evidence can you bring forward to demonstrate that illegal drugs 
are more harmful than the legal drugs of alcohol and tobacco? Hint: The 
1973 Le Dain Commission concluded, "There appears to be little permanent 
physiological damage from chronic use of pure opiate narcotics."

3. What did the prohibition of alcohol teach us about the efficacy of 
prohibiting a popular product? Hint 1: How did Al Capone become such a 
powerful figure? Hint 2: Did forcing drinkers to obtain their booze from 
the black market result in more drinkers dying or fewer?

Alan Randell,
Victoria, BC
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MAP posted-by: GD