Pubdate: Thu, 08 Apr 2004 Source: National Post (Canada) Copyright: 2004 Southam Inc. Contact: http://www.nationalpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286 Author: Jody Pressman Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n538/a11.html?47703 POT IS NOT THE DANGER Re: The Dangers of Pot, letter to the editor, April 6. Your letter writer, M. Gifford, should read the Senate Committee report in 2002 that unanimously concluded that marijuana is less harmful than tobacco, alcohol and even our prohibition laws themselves. The real problem with marijuana in Canada is the black-market profiteering and subsequent harm that results from a prohibition environment. The policy of prohibition has had 70 years to work its magic, and has been unable to deliver the goods as consumption rates and marijuana offences are at all-time highs. The real dangers associated with cannabis is those associated with continuing to enforce a clearly failed and demonstrably harmful policy that props up organized crime at the expense of the health and safety of all Canadians. The prohibition of alcohol in the United States in the 1920s was a big social problem until politicians woke up and realized that regulation, taxation, and a rule-based approach to responsible adult use was the best way to make our laws to work for the citizens and not for the criminals. When will our current politicians arrive at the same conclusion? And how many more Canadians have to go to jail before they do? Jody Pressman, Ottawa. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart