Pubdate: Tue, 29 Mar 2005
Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005 The Ottawa Citizen
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326
Author:  Bruce Symington
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n491/a11.html

BALANCE APPRECIATED

Re: Marijuana isn't safe, March 24.

The Citizen deserves credit for taking a balanced approach to
publishing letters. You print letters from both sides of contentious
issues such as marijuana safety, and let the readers evaluate what the
letter-writers have to say. Each tries to convince the readers to
support a certain position. Sometimes the letters actually support the
other side of the issue, and bolster the opposition. When a letter
such as the one-liner from Peter Drevniok appears, evocative of the
prohibitionists' "My mind is made up, don't confuse me with the facts"
mindset, it does more for the anti-prohibitionists' position than
would 10 letters setting out reasoned opinions based on facts in
favour of ending prohibition. If the only response is "Quit trying to
prove something with facts," then an argument is won.

Bruce Symington

Medicine Hat, Alta.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin