Pubdate: Fri, 08 Nov 2002
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2002, Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.fyiottawa.com/ottsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author: Carey Ker
Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor, headline by newshawk
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n2045/a01.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration)

PROHIBITION DOESN'T WORK

Re "Minister cultivates tougher pot-grower penalties," (Nov. 3): Politics 
is somewhat reminiscent of the old chicken-and-egg argument -- are 
politicians truly that ignorant before we elect them or do they become 
willfully ignorant after we elect them?

Bob Runciman's plan to incarcerate pot farmers is a case in point. If Mr. 
Runciman truly used his wits and had a sense of history he'd know that his 
blunt approach to prohibition doesn't work. The imposition of one's moral 
vision in spite of the immutability of the laws of economics is why 
cannabis is literally worth its weight in gold.

Clearly, America's attempt to jail its way to victory in the drug war has 
been a big, fat failure. Can Mr. Runciman provide any research to prove 
that his war on cannabis would be any different? Didn't someone once define 
insanity as doing the same thing over and over again in the expectation of 
a different result? It's not a panacea but I'll take cannabis regulation 
over Runciman's blatant demagoguery any day!

Carey Ker

Toronto

(Less huffing, more puffing, you mean?)
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D