Pubdate: Tue, 18 Nov 2003
Source: Fort Saskatchewan Record, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2003 The Fort Saskatchewan Record
Contact:  http://www.fortsaskatchewanrecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/824
Author: John Wittan

MANY CONCERNS UNFOUNDED

In reponse to a letter on the "war on drugs" published by the Sherwood Park 
News, David Kilgour and other's who share his concerns, it's seems you have 
not read the Canadian Sentate Commitee's Report on Drug refom 
[http://www.parl.gc.ca/37/1/parlbus/commbus/senate/com-e/ille-e/rep-e/summary-e.htm].

Many of your concerns are unfounded and simply more rhetoric not based on 
facts and years of research. I do agree that cannabis may be more potent 
now than it was 30 years ago, but that's good thing because you don't have 
to smoke as much, two or three puffs is all one needs, there by lowering 
the health risked associated with smoking.

That our trade with the US would suffer by ending prohibition? I doubt the 
US is not going to stop buying our energy, water and whatever else the can 
get there greedy big hands on for there best interests. Statistics have 
recently shown that young persons are smoking less tobacco that they used 
to because it's harder to buy because it is more tightly regulated, however 
young persons are smoking more marijuana, because marijuana is not 
regulated like tobacco is.

Under prohibition, drug dealers don't have to ask anyone for ID (that you 
are legal age) to buy drugs. I think it is irresponsible for the government 
not to legalize and regulate the marijuana. Beyond that, the real issue is 
personal freedom of choice for people to consume whatever healthly or 
unhealthy substance they choose, provided knowing the real risks involved.

I think there are a lot more dangerous things in our society than 
marijuana, like rotwiler dogs who chew up small children like poor James 
Waddel who is dead. But anyone can still grow rotwilers.

Cannabis plants don't eat little children. When are politicians and police 
associations going to admit prohibition is a dismal failure and a missuse 
of tax payer dollars. I just pray that our police don't start assaults on 
schools pulling guns on students like the US has just recently done.

It's pretty clear to me that the 'war on drugs' is doing more harm than the 
drugs themselves.

John Wittan
Edmonton 
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MAP posted-by: Perry Stripling