Pubdate: Fri, 02 Jul 2004
Source: Queen Charlotte Observer (CN BC)
Copyright: 2004 Queen Charlotte Observer.
Contact:  http://www.qciobserver.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2681
Author: Mark Yaroshuk
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

GROW AND GIVE

Editor, Sir:

Legalize pot? Why not? With the government history of product distribution 
(ie, tobacco, alcohol and gasoline) it should be a cash cow. The product is 
already legislated to be illegal for possession & cultivation.

Alcohol can be made with potatoes and yeast at a fraction of the cost the 
government charges and laws are in place to make it illegal to distill. 
This product is highly addictive and socially destructive if used improperly.

Tobacco grows freely if planted and watered. Government laws limit the 
cultivation and processing of tobacco products. This product is highly 
addictive and kills more people than anything else, it says so on the 
package. Gasoline is the end product of crude oil, which is extracted from 
the ground and countless by-products all also derived from crude oil 
besides gasoline, and is minimum 30 - 40-percent filler.

The most efficiency a well-tuned engine can derive from gas is 70-percent 
with the remainder being built off in a puff of smoke this product is a 
major contributor to global warming.

Pot grows freely if planted, watered and has proper light. Pot is a weed. 
Regulations restricting a weed is the same as saying it is illegal to plant 
alder or dandelion. The cost to consumer for pot is about the same as gold. 
Gold is infinitely recyclable and takes millions of years of evolution to 
create. Pot grows on a windowsill and has one use after about six weeks. 
Hemp (pot) used to full potential is a very versatile product with 
countless uses. Big business and government regulations have stigmatized 
hemp production and use to the point that even people who use it daily are 
scared to admit to family and friends. So given the government's 
responsibility in supply of products to consumers we know, if pot was 
legalized this business would provide a substandard product costing more 
than ever.

Legalize it, if everyone planted hemp and tobacco for ornamental, medicinal 
use, personal use and product development then it would be acceptable and 
the government could be taken out of the picture and cost to each person, 
each community and society in general would be insignificant.

So grow a plant and give it away.

Mark Yaroshuk, Queen Charlotte
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager