Pubdate: Fri, 06 Sep 2002
Source: Hamilton Spectator (CN ON)
Copyright: The Hamilton Spectator 2002
Contact:  http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/181
Author: Lawrence King

USERS ARE PERSECUTED

RE: 'Senators would legalize pot' (Sept. 5).

I enjoyed reading this story on the Senate committee's marijuana report. 
Unfortunately, I don't think much will come of it.

But, anyone with a sense of "right" and even a small grasp on reality can 
see that the government has no right to judge this issue.

The government supports and profits from the sale of "legal" drugs -- 
tobacco and alcohol. Any persecution of pot users is, in many ways, just 
the government's way of directing Canadians back to using drugs that profit 
the government and its partners.

What justification can the government offer for prosecuting marijuana 
users? The government claims that it is the protector of our health and 
welfare. It claims that current drug laws reflect its concern for our 
well-being. What nonsense.

The federal government is the biggest drug dealer in the country; denying 
the truth, covering it up with fancy words, and passing laws prohibiting 
the use of competitive products doesn't change that.

If the members of our government are the protectors of our health as they 
claim, they are not only incompetent; they are negligent and should face 
prosecution.

- -- Lawrence King

Hamilton
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MAP posted-by: Beth