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.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart