Pubdate: Thu, 19 Sep 2002
Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2002 Hacker Press Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.abbynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155
Author: Tim Meehan

OUTLAWING POT MAKES NO SENSE

Editor, The News:

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 at all - 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" that 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
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens