Pubdate: Tue, 16 Jul 2002
Source: Guelph Mercury (CN ON)
Copyright: 2002 Guelph Mercury Newspapers Limited
Contact:  http://www.guelphmercury.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1418
Author: Wayne Phillips

REGULATED CANNABIS A BETTER SOLUTION

Dear Editor - The English government's announcement that it will lighten up 
on cannabis and penalties for its many users doesn't go far enough. As your 
Friday, July 12 editorial, "Lightening up on cannabis use" asks, "Where 
will the now-freer simple possessors get their supply?"

Regulation of cannabis remains a superior solution to decriminalization 
both here and in England.

The decriminalization of simple possession of cannabis in of and by itself, 
would simply establish a system of ticketing that would rise exponentially 
based on any increased volume ( of those ) ticketed. Fines ultimately could 
still lead to incarceration, either because of failure to pay or the number 
of times caught.

The decriminalization of simple possession of cannabis would not address 
the multitude of problems inherent with prohibition.

Dr. Patrick Smith of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health told the 
Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs that: "If we discovered three 
drugs today and they were alcohol, tobacco and marijuana, there isn't an 
expert in the country who would recommend that marijuana be the one that is 
banned based on individual and societal harm."

If there isn't an expert in the country who would recommend that marijuana 
be the one that is banned based on individual and societal harm, then the 
prohibition of cannabis is a mistake and, as such, creates problems where 
there need not be any. It is this same policy that is the catalyst fueling 
marijuana grow operations.

Government could use more effective means to safeguard the public while 
striking a major victory against those fronting "illegal grow operations" 
by regulating, licensing and/or taxing marijuana like alcohol.

Wayne Phillips

Hamilton
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MAP posted-by: Ariel