Pubdate: Mon, 04 Jun 2001
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2001, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.fyitoronto.com/torsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457
Author: Manfred Kessler
Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor; headline by newshawk

CANNABIS PROHIBITION COUNTERPRODUCTIVE

I'M AN American, but there is something I need to say to your readers. 
Having just learned of your Parliament's consideration to decriminalize 
marijuana, I was compelled to let you know how I feel about it.

I'm a 65-year-old retired law enforcement (parole) officer. I enjoyed the 
rather benign effects of marijuana on a casual basis throughout the '60s 
and '70s, as did many of my friends (and colleagues).

While I do not believe anyone should smoke anything, and that minors should 
not have access to any kind of intoxicant, I do believe the criminalization 
of this relatively innocuous euphoric tranquilizer, such as exists in my 
increasingly authoritarian country, is unnecessary and is totally 
counterproductive.

I am of the firm opinion that marijuana prohibition is at once a 
significant waste of valuable law enforcement resources, an extreme waste 
of tax revenue, a major source of official corruption and it accounts for 
the social ruin of many decent, productive citizens.

The force of criminal law should be reserved for punishing those who harm 
others, therefore I am hoping your Parliament will not yield to pressures 
deriving from my government's irrational drug policies but will act to 
relieve your citizens of the needlessly destructive and corrupting 
influence of marijuana prohibition.

Manfred (Mike) Kessler

Lakewood, N.J.

(We don't think our Parliament is quite so free-thinking just yet)
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart