Pubdate: Sun, 07 Mar 2004
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2004, Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.fyiottawa.com/ottsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author: Bruce Symington
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n352/a02.html?26432
Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor, headline by newshawk

DECRIMINILIZATION WILL NOT SOLVE ANY OF THE PROBLEMS

Your response to the letter from Jody Pressman regarding the pot
"decriminalization" bill in the Feb 27 Sun was facetious. You said
that we should try it, and if it does not work, we should try
something else.

If you went to a mechanic because your transmission was slipping and
he wanted to change the spark plugs in your engine, you would be upset
because it obviously would not solve the problem. This
"decriminalization" bill is nothing of the kind, and will not solve
any of the problems it purports to address. Additionally, because of
legislative inertia, it could actually reduce the chance of further
change when it proves to be an error. I can hear the comments now:
"See, we tried decrim, and it didn't work. We should return to the old
way."

Bruce Symington

Medicine Hat, Alta.

(You won't hear them from us -- it seems plain we're moving in the
direction of fewer controls on marijuana use)
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin