Pubdate: Wed, 11 Sep 2002 Source: Halifax Herald (CN NS) Copyright: 2002 The Halifax Herald Limited Contact: http://www.herald.ns.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/180 Author: Tim Meehan WEAK ARGUMENTS Dear Editor: Re: "No pot of gold" (Sept. 6 editorial). So, yet another study has been presented showing that the evil weed is, in fact, not so evil at all. So far, we've heard that it should be disregarded because it's a "back-to-school gift for drug pushers" (ignoring that underage use and unregulated sales would be prohibited under legalization) and the "wrong message" to send to youth (in other words, lie to them with the status quo propaganda). Of course, when one takes time to actually read the Senate report, these and other weak arguments prohibitionists present are demolished convincingly, and with medical and scientific proof. There is no justification - legal, medical or moral - for the prohibition of cannabis. In the 1990s, neo-conservatives were quite successful in portraying public union bosses as "fat cats" who make all kinds of ridiculous statements in the never-ending quest for more funding. Why should the dinosaurs at the Canadian Police Association or the National Association of Professional Police, two groups that have come out strongly against this report, be viewed in any other light? Tim Meehan, communications director, Ontario Consumers for Safe Access to Recreational Cannabis, Toronto - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart