Pubdate: Sat, 30 Sep 2006
Source: Nanaimo News Bulletin (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006, BC Newspaper Group
Contact:  http://www.nanaimobulletin.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/948
Author: Russell Barth

ARE WE RETURNING TO REEFER MADNESS?

To 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 operations - a policy that has repeatedly proven to be 
a counterproductive 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.

And this policy will also re-enforce the stigma against medical 
marijuana users.

Many people may conclude if the government won't fund research, then 
marijuana is not worth researching. This will increase the profound 
social alienation that medical pot users already feel.

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 1950's and 
reefer madness?

Russell Barth,

Ottawa
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MAP posted-by: Elaine