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 - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine