Pubdate: Tue, 13 Jul 2004
Source: Windsor Star (CN ON)
Copyright: The Windsor Star 2004
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/windsor/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/501
Author: Eric Knudsen
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n972/a06.html

LEGALIZING MARIJUANA REINSTATES CIVIL RIGHTS

In the July 7 letter, If Pot Is Going South, Who's Using It Here,
writer William Bradley has challenged the RCMP and other officials who
say all the Canadian cannabis is going to the U.S.

Afterward he succinctly puts the real issue on the table, the real
issue being that the drug war has made police lazy in nature.

The idea is that cannabis users are lazy, peace-loving and obvious.
Why go after violent criminals with actual victims?

It's dangerous and raises the chance that police may not be as likely
to come home after work, or ever for that matter. It is for this
reason that cops hunt down and persecute pot users.

Cannabis users are easy prey for police. This is why they try to paint
the picture that marijuana is somehow naturally affiliated with corruption.

If they can get people to believe that marijuana is evil in some way,
they will then have an easier job description and portray the illusion
of helping to rid the streets of crime. Meanwhile the real criminals
are getting away.

Some people are making money on cannabis's criminal status and they
don't care if civil rights are being set aside as long as there is an
income streaming from it.

Legal cannabis, on the other hand, will bring in much more money and
reinstate the civil rights which must accompany a truly free country.

Eric Knudsen

Minneapolis, Minn. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake