Pubdate: Tue, 06 Feb 2007 Source: Langley Advance (CN BC) Copyright: 2007 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc. Contact: http://www.langleyadvance.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1248 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n026/a12.html?312027 Author: Russell Barth Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) LETTER WRITER PROVES ADAGE OF SUCKER BORN EVERY MINUTE Dear Editor, Ken J. Marsh [Police officers easier to believe, Jan. 9 Letters, Langley Advance] just proves the old saying, "There is a sucker born every minute." I use marijuana for medical reasons, not to "escape reality." By that, I mean I use marijuana to deal with the reality of a chronic pain and depression condition, and my wife uses it to escape violent epileptic seizures. But on the subject of police credibility, one must look at history. Just because a cop says something is dangerous, doesn't make it so. Almost all of what police say about marijuana can be disproved by simply looking it up. One need look no further than the 2002 Senate Committee Report for proof. They have an agenda; they want prohibition to continue. If pot were suddenly legalized, police would have to start treating young people, people of colour, the poor, and chronically ill Canadians like myself with actual respect - not to mention the enormous budget cuts they'd be likely to suffer. If Mr. Marsh wants to take the word of a group of people who have a large budgetary interest in continuing a counter-productive policy, and has been repeatedly caught in hundreds, if not thousands of lies over a period of decades, I have a wonderful bridge in Brooklyn I would love to sell him. Russell Barth Ottawa, Ont. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman