Pubdate: Tue, 31 Oct 2006
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2006 Calgary Herald
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Tom Love

SMOKE, MIRRORS

Pot - Re: "Buying Product Rewards Bad Guys," Nigel Hannaford, Opinion, Oct. 28.

Having a cold beer after work was also illegal in many provinces for 
a time in the early 1900s. I will bet few were concerned that this 
was aiding and abetting the criminal underworld and their illegal breweries.

More than likely, they thought the government was a little daft for 
outlawing what has been a popular thirst quencher for centuries.

Prohibiting marijuana, which also has long been a popular 
recreational drug, and lumping it in with harder drugs is just as ludicrous.

Its harmful health and social effects are but a blip on the radar 
compared to alcohol and cigarettes.

Legalize it, control it, tax it and you take away the base of a large 
criminal enterprise rendering grow-ops and smuggling useless. If they 
persist, you can bust them for income tax evasion. Nobody in his or 
her right mind would mess with Revenue Canada.

Tom Love,

Calgary
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MAP posted-by: Elaine