Pubdate: Thu, 01 Jul 2004
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2004 Southam Inc.
Contact:  http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: Russell Barth

TIME FOR POT REFORM

Maybe with this Liberal/NDP coalition government, we can finally get
some serious marijuana-law reform happening in this country. Members
of the Bloc would likely help that situation as well.

The NDP will likely force the Liberals to revamp their ridiculous
"decrim" legislation, which is actually an "alternative punishment"
legislation and not decriminalization at all. Maybe with the NDP
involved, we will get a sensible drug policy and not just more of the
same with a different name.

This is a tremendous opportunity for Canada. Not only can we stop
spending money on a completely failed drug policy, we can stop
clogging our courts with thousands of drug cases every year. We can
use our jails for real criminals like child-porn peddlers and rapists
and killers, instead of pot-smokers.

Just imagine; One little piece of legislation, and we suddenly take
billions of dollars away from organized crime, and put it into health
care, education, affordable housing and even our dilapidated military.

Whether one is a pot user or not, marijuana legalization is the only
sensible policy for Canada.

Russell Barth

Ottawa
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin