Pubdate: Wed, 26 Feb 2003
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2003, Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.fyiottawa.com/ottsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author: Marc-Boris St-Maurice
Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor, headline by newshawk
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

MARIJUANA PARTY POSITION

Allow me to take this opportunity to enlighten your editorial department 
about the Marijuana Party's opinion on the pressing issue of ending 
prohibition.

Let me be perfectly clear, the Marijuana Party does not advocate the use of 
marijuana, we advocate changing the law as soon as possible. In fact, we 
feel that our proposed changes will serve to lower marijuana usage rates 
amongst the population, exactly what our current policy promises to do, but 
never succeeds to.

In addition, not only are we concerned with what needs to be done, but more 
important we are concerned as to why nothing has yet been done. That is how 
we differ from the other parties who practise one of the four D's of 
politics -- delay, and postpone changes indefinitely so that they, in an 
attempt to win our votes, might try and promise us again and again that 
they are sincere in their desire to change this law whenever an election 
rolls around.

And when it comes to driving while under the influence, the responsible 
admission is that there is still a lack of conclusive data to back up any 
of the claims being made, either for or against the case, which is why I 
find it deeply disturbing that your paper claims that marijuana is the 
cause of accidents. We simply do not know this, and, unless you are privy 
to some data that I am unaware of, there is no way your editorial staff can 
know either.

It is just as irresponsible to suggest that marijuana impairs driving 
abilities as is to advocate that people drive stoned.

What we desperately need now is better research on the connections between 
marijuana and driving abilities and honest reporting about it, regardless 
of the implication it might have on any particular political agenda.

Until then, even if there is some evidence that suggests marijuana may not 
adversely affect someone's driving abilities, we suggest erring on the safe 
side. So drive safely and avoid driving under the influence of any drug. 
(And by the way, I do hope you can spare me the agony of your "I told you 
so" sounding parenthetical remarks.)

Marc-Boris St-Maurice, Leader, The Marijuana Party of Canada

(You want conclusive data? How about five dead Kanata kids outside Perth in 
a crash caused by a stoned driver?)
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