Pubdate: Thu, 04 Nov 2004
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2004 Southam Inc.
Contact:  http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: Russell Barth
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

POT REFORM

Re: Grits Revive Marijuana Legislation, Nov. 2.

Imagine having a glass of wine, then being busted for drunk driving
five days later. This could happen under the terms of legislation
being proposed by Irwin Cotler, the Justice Minister. Since traces of
cannabis can be found in the body weeks after the last puff, they
could be considered enough to charge up to three million Canadians
with impaired driving. The "alternate penalty framework" that Mr.
Cotler proposes will do nothing to curb the proliferation of grow-ops
or to stop teens from selling pot to others.

By not legalizing and regulating cannabis, our government, police and
courts are deliberately subsidizing organized crime, endangering the
public, wasting billions of tax dollars and keeping keeping billions
more in annual tax revenue out of the hands of Canadians.

Russell Barth,

Ottawa
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MAP posted-by: Derek