Pubdate: Thu, 13 Nov 2003 Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2003, Canoe Limited Partnership. Contact: http://www.canoe.com/NewsStand/TorontoSun/home.html Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457 Author: Jack Cartier Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor, headline by newshawk Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n1728/a03.html LEGALIZE AND REGULATE POT RE "HAZARDS of a job" by Mark Bonokoski (Nov. 5): The sooner the feds wriggle their way out from under America's thumb and get pot production, distribution and sale into a regulated framework, the sooner all the problems with illegal grow-ops will dry up and disappear. I'm looking forward to the proposed decriminalization bill dying with Jean Chretien's departure. Decriminalizing small-time possession will only increase its use among young people and increase the motivation for gangs to set up grow houses to meet the demand. It's time to let a regulated industry grow the stuff with proper rules for safety. It's time to leave distribution to Dutch-style "coffee shops" or the LCBO - places that can demand ID and enforce age restrictions. Why should grow-ops cost taxpayers hundreds of millions in policing when government could instead be earning millions in tax revenue? Jack Cartier Toronto (A question more and more people are asking) - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake