Pubdate: Thu, 09 Jan 2003
Source: Daily Herald-Tribune (CN AB)
Copyright: 2003 Daily Herald -Tribune
Contact:  http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1840
Author: Stephen Heath

HEALTH ISSUE

The fact that letter writer David Smith has a personal belief in the 
alleged "gateway theory" related to marijuana use does not explain why over 
one hundred million North Americans have used marijuana and the number of 
hard drug addicts in our two countries is less than three per cent of that 
number.

Further, he does not address the fundamental question, which is, "Should 
adults who willingly consume marijuana despite the misgivings of other 
people be subject to arrest, prosecution and a jail cage at taxpayer expense?"

Marijuana use is at most a public health question, not a law enforcement 
matter. Until that distinction is quantified by changing existing laws, we 
will see far too many resources wasted on the persecution of consensual 
adult behaviour at the expense of helping those people with real and 
legitimate substance abuse problems of all kinds.

Stephen Heath

Clearwater, Florida
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart