Pubdate: Thu, 15 Feb 2001
Source: The Elk Valley Miner (CN BC)
Copyright: 2001 The Elk Valley Miner
Contact:  Box 820, Sparwood, B.C., V0B 2G0
Source: The Elk Valley Miner (CN BC)
Page 5
Author: Fred Sima
Note: Sima is this region's candidate for the BC Marijuana Party

TOO MUCH EFFORT IN CANADA'S WAR ON POT

To the editor:

Cannabis is the safest and most effective stimulant, relaxant, 
anti-depressant, pain killer and appetite stimulant known.

Unlike other stimulants (like caffeine and tobacco) other relaxants 
(like alcohol and Valium) and other anti-depressants (like Prozac and 
chocolate), cannabis has no negative short or long term health 
effects, no record of death by overdose, and no major withdrawal 
symptoms.  By comparison, caffeine (also found in chocolate) is 
associated with ulcers, stress, heart attacks, over-dose and over-use 
deaths, heavy impairment in large doses, and a bad headache from 
withdrawal.

The LeDain Commission recommended a variety of "drug peace" solutions 
but has been ignored since 1973.  Experts who testified against the 
1996 Controlled Drugs and Substances Act were also ignored.  Public 
opinion polls have consistently shown since 1980 that a majority of 
Canadians favour a European "Harm Reduction" solution.

After Switzerland switched to a harm reduction strategy on heroin, 
the crime rate dropped by 60 per cent.  By one estimate, 70 per cent 
of Canada's crime is addiction-related in some way.

The 1993 BC Chief Coroner's Report into Overdose Deaths was a 
comprehensive study commissioned by the NDP in British Columbia.  Its 
recommendations include decriminalizing pot, allowing prescription of 
other substances, and implementing harm reduction strategies and it 
has not been acted on at all.

The results from a $14,000 public-opinion survey conducted for the 
city of Vancouver BC are 57 per cent among city residents are for 
decriminalizing marijuana and 61 per cent say they support the 
medical use of heroin for drug treatment.

Canada spends one to five billion dollars per year persecuting 
cannabis users, growers and dealers.  Two thirds of all drug charges 
are for cannabis, and of those, two thirds are for simple possession.

Fifty thousand Canadians are charged every year, and 30,000 are 
convicted. A third of those convicted for possession go to jail - the 
rest are fined, given travel and employment limits and other life 
long penalties.  2000 Canadians are currently in jail for simple 
possession.

Almost one million Canadians have been given a permanent criminal 
record simply for possessing cannabis.

In 1999, police made fewer arrests in every area of crime except for 
marijuana.  Canadian marijuana arrests increased 16 per cent in 1999, 
following a 30 year trend.

Fred Sima
Elkford
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MAP posted-by: Josh Sutcliffe