Pubdate: Thu, 07 Feb 2002 Source: Kitchener-Waterloo Record (CN ON) Copyright: 2002 Kitchener-Waterloo Record Contact: http://www.therecord.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/225 Author: Hank Jager Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) DON'T DECRIMINALIZE POT The Record's grounds for decriminalizing marijuana in its Feb.2 editorial, were: we should not waste our limited police resources; we should not waste our finite supplies of public money; marijuana does no more harm than tobacco; and growers routinely receive light sentences in our courts. Did not our government declare this a crime? Are we going to decriminalize any crime that is so common? Next thing we know, The Record will use those same grounds mentioned above for speeding, stealing, murder. Speeding does no harm -- except the occasional death. Stealing does no harm -- except a few inconveniences and losses to the owner. Murder does no harm to a person that kills, only to the life of the victim. Should we waste our limited resources, finite supplies of public money on punishing these crimes? People convicted of these crimes routinely receive light sentences. Let's reduce our police force and let anarchy reign. Rules and regulations are for the common good. If it becomes common to violate these rules and regulations, why do they exist at all? Is The Record ultimately promoting lawlessness, an every-man-for-himself attitude? Hank Jager, Fergus - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager