Pubdate: Sun, 23 Apr 2006
Source: Quesnel Cariboo Observer (CN BC)
Contact:  http://www.quesnelobserver.com/
Address: 188 Carson Ave. Quesnel, B.C. V2J-2A8
Copyright: 2006 Quesnel Cariboo Observer
Author: Robert Sharpe
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

MARIJUANA: IT'S A SOCIAL PROBLEM

Re: Quesnel RCMP drug crack down continues, The Observer, April 12. 
B.C.'s hazardous marijuana grow operations are a direct result of 
marijuana prohibition.

Legitimate farmers do not steal electricity to grow produce in the 
basements of rented homes.

If legal, growing marijuana would be less profitable than farming 
tomatoes. As it stands, the drug war distorts market forces such that 
an easily grown weed is literally worth its weight in gold. Rather 
than continue to subsidize organized crime, Canadian policymakers 
should ignore the reefer madness hysteria of the U.S. government and 
instead look to their own Senate for guidance.

In the words of Senator Pierre Claude Nolin, "Scientific evidence 
overwhelmingly indicates cannabis is substantially less harmful than 
alcohol and should be treated not as a criminal issue but as a social 
and public health issue."

Robert Sharpe

Washington, D.C. 
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman