Pubdate: Fri, 29 Sep 2006
Source: Abbotsford Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 The Abbotsford Times
Contact:  http://www.abbotsfordtimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1009
Author: Russell Barth

TORIES ARE ALL ABOUT 'REEFER MADNESS,' NOT SCIENCE

The Editor:

The Tories refuse to finance research into something that is already 
known to be a viable and valuable medicine -- medical marijuana, but 
they will spend even more money on a policy that has repeatedly 
proven to be a complete and utter failure -- marijuana prohibition.

Marijuana is the safest and most versatile medicinal herb in the 
world, with dozens of medical applications.

But the Tories don't want to spend any money on this new and rapidly 
growing field of medical research. Probably because of the clear and 
present threat it poses to the bottom line of Big Pharma.

They will, however, spend more than $4 million hiring more cops to 
tear down grow-ops -- a policy that has repeatedly proven to be a 
counter-productive failure.

This policy helps cops and gangsters, and costs the rest of us a 
fortune every year.

How much money do they plan to spend, I wonder, on factually 
inaccurate "educational" programs or advertising campaigns about the 
"dangers" of marijuana aimed at kids?

A lot more than $4 million, I'll bet. Is this really the kind of 
backwards thinking, ideologically driven, "effective spending" that 
we can expect from the Tory government?

Is this what we want for Canada -- a U.S.-style return to the 1950s 
and "reefer madness?"

Russell Barth

Federal Medical Marijuana License Holder

Ottawa
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MAP posted-by: Elaine