Pubdate: Tue, 30 Jul 2002 Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB) Copyright: 2002, Canoe Limited Partnership. Contact: http://www.fyiedmonton.com/htdocs/edmsun.shtml Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135 Author: Julian Kinisky Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor; headline by newshawk GOVERNMENT COULD PROFIT FROM SALES THE RECENT comment by Connie Woodcock on placing marijuana on the shelves next to vodka reflects the unconscionable profits of bootlegging the drug on the street. Billions of dollars are earned by what is now the criminal element. It's rather stupid of the government to forgo the huge revenues that would accrue from legitimate sales. When will we finally learn that prohibition is nothing but a bonanza for the criminal element?High tobacco taxes are similar to prohibition. Accordingly, I must congratulate the legislature of Alberta and the government of Canada who, with the strong support of ASH, have forced the development of a smuggling ring of immense proportions, sending millions of dollars to the criminal element. How smart is it to make all that money for criminals in some wild attempt to stop or slow down smoking? Can you imagine the utter stupidity of a whole nation undergoing a huge rise in the cost-of-living index because of tobacco taxes? The criminal element must be cheering for ASH and the foolish government tobacco taxes. Julian Kinisky (Imagine if everyone quit smoking.) - --- MAP posted-by: Alex