Pubdate: Thu, 12 Jun 2003
Source: Aldergrove Star (CN BC)
Copyright: 2003 Central Fraser Valley Star Publishing Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.aldergrovestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/989
Author: John McIntosh
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n846/a01.html
Note: Headline created by MAP editor

POT PROPOSAL ANYTHING BUT FLAT

Editor, The Star:

Re: "Pot law proposal falls flat here", The Star, June 5:

In the above article, several individuals are uncritically quoted who make 
unsupported or debunked claims about cannabis or cannabis decriminalization.

MP Chuck Strahl criticizes the proposed law on the grounds that decreasing 
punishments for adults will encourage children to use marijuana. This is 
both unsupported and irrelevant. First, making marijuana less taboo might 
have the effect of decreasing the mystique about cannabis for teenagers 
looking for ways to rebel. Secondly, punishing adults to set an example for 
children is hardly sound policy -- we don't want children driving cars, but 
throwing adults in jail for driving would hardly be a solution; we don't 
want children voting, but citing adults for voting would be absurd; lastly, 
and most telling, we don't want children drinking, but prohibiting alcohol 
for adults would be quite plainly absurd and counterproductive.

JOHN MCINTOSH,

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MAP posted-by: Tom