Pubdate: Thu, 05 Jun 2003
Source: Mission City Record (CN BC)
Copyright: 2003 The Mission City Record
Contact:  http://www.missioncityrecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1305
Author: Jason Roessle
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

PROPOSED POT LAWS NOT WELCOME

No matter where you stand on the issue of marijuana decriminalization, it's 
a touchy subject.

Unlike many, many others in the world, I have no desire to see any amount 
of pot decriminalized.

Marijuana is illegal. Plain and simple. Possession, even in small amounts, 
should still be illegal.

I used to be a fence-sitter on this subject until I attended a presentation 
put on about the destructive effects of pot on the body and society as a 
whole. RCMP Staff Sgt. Chuck Doucette spoke on this subject and convinced 
me without a shadow of a doubt that marijuana is just as destructive and 
harmful as studies have shown.

With this knowledge, I can't understand why anyone would want to ingest 
these chemicals. The long term health effects seem reasonably unpleasant also.

And bringing up alcohol and cigarettes as proof that some harmful items are 
legal to use to me simply sounds a little like a six-year-old crying, "But 
Jimmy's parents said he could!! Why can't I?"

I see the proposed new pot laws as nothing more than the first step down a 
slippery slope that will eventually see marijuana as a fully legalized 
substance.

Granted, the drug laws of today are garbage. The backlog in our legal 
system is immense, but there must be another solution aside from fining 
people who are caught with pot.

The marijuana laws need an overhaul just as bad as a few dozen other laws, 
but pot should still stay illegal -- even small amounts.

There's no benefit to cramming a bunch more chemicals into our already 
toxic-laced oxygen supply. Medicinal? I'll concede it can help some people, 
but this should only be used in medically sound circumstances.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager