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 - --- MAP posted-by: GD