Pubdate: Sat, 14 Dec 2002
Source: Calgary Sun, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2002 The Calgary Sun
Contact:  http://www.fyicalgary.com/calsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/67
Author: Alun Buffry
Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor, headline by newshawk

CANNABIS OUGHT TO BE LEGALIZED

Just an observation relevant to the government's plans to ease up on
cannabis smokers in Canada. I visited Haarlem, a city in Holland, a couple
of weeks ago, calling in at several of their cannabis cafes and a hemp
museum. After that, I have no doubt whatsoever that cannabis ought to be
legalized. Obviously people have and will continue to smoke cannabis
whatever the law says.

The difference in Holland is that they are given some measure of protection
by being allowed to buy from a source where hard drugs are not avail-able,
and smoke it in safety. I also glanced at Dutch figures for hard drug
addiction and death.

They are remarkably low compared with the rest of Europe and the U.S.
Holland is also able to tax the profits the dealers make and use the money
for purposes far better than catching pot-smokers.

Alun Buffry

(It's high-time pot is decriminalized, which doesn't mean it will be made
legal.) 
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MAP posted-by: Josh