Pubdate: Mon, 25 Oct 2004
Source: Winnipeg Sun (CN MB)
Copyright: 2004 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.winnipegsun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/503
Author: T. Cook
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

POT THINKING BACKWARDS

Re: Busts of grow ops just drop in bucket (Bob Holliday, Oct. 22).

I find it hard to believe that police union president Lorne Schinkel can 
believe his own BS! Putting people in jail for growing a "weed" is 
draconian and just backward thinking. Does anyone have any idea the costs 
involved with incarceration? While murderers and rapists are given a slap 
on the wrist, people who grow pot should be in jail for 10 years?

If the government were serious in any way about cannabis growing, they 
would legalize the plant and charge a licencing fee to any who wish to grow 
for their personal use only, of course setting a reasonable limit to the 
number of plants per person per season. They would also produce, package, 
tax and control public sales to adults, just like tobacco and alcohol.

Drop the stigma and allow those of us who suffer chronic pain to grow and 
use cannabis in the responsible manner that we do, so we can smile rather 
than grimace.

T. Cook
Winnipeg
- ---