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 - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine