Pubdate: Tue, 11 Sep 2007 Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB) Copyright: 2007 Winnipeg Free Press Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n1046/a05.html Author: Craig Hobson KEEP MARIJUANA ILLEGAL Re: Everyone's doing it, Sept. 10. I must take issue with this editorial -- no one gets a criminal record for a first-time conviction for possessing marijuana. They get an absolute or conditional discharge -- which ultimately results in no criminal record. It is, in fact, a warning. If they continue to break the law and get subsequent convictions for possession of marijuana -- they may end up with a criminal record. And they should -- for wantonly disregarding the law of the land. Would decriminalizing marijuana end up with more or less young people trying the drug? My opinion is that more young people will try it, just as more people experiment with decriminalized alcohol as opposed to criminalized marijuana. If our intent is to have more young people experimenting with marijuana, then by all means, let's decriminalize it. Your editorial also suggests that because 50 per cent of 18- and 19-year-olds have smoked marijuana in the past year, we should decriminalize its use. If we are going to base public safety policies on the input of teenagers, I shudder to think what kind of society we are heading for. Craig Hobson Winnipeg - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake