Pubdate: Fri, 10 Aug 2007 Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB) Column: Point/Counterpoint Copyright: 2007 Canoe Limited Partnership. Contact: http://www.edmontonsun.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n940/a12.html THE GREAT CANNABIS DEBATE Should Canada decriminalize marijuana? Licia Corbella took the affirmative and Michael Coren the negative on Monday in our Point/Counterpoint debate. Here's what some of you had to say in reply. While she is usually pretty level headed, Licia Corbella sounds like a complete fool in her debate with Michael Coren regarding the issue of legalizing marijuana. First she claims that billions of dollars could be saved if police would not spend time arresting people for small personal possession of marijauna. Then she flips completely around and accepts Coren's contention that since police are only focusing on major drug dealers and not users, the drug should be legalized anyway. She then makes the ludicrous claim that marijuana is not harmful to one's health. These very same arguments are repeated ad nauseum by virtually every pothead I've ever talked to. BARRY BANEK Wow, this seems to be a debate between the rational (Licia Corbella) and the unrational (Michael Coren). As a recreational pot user I am a little offended by his comparison of pot use to theft, rape and assault. Remarkably there are people (like myself) who are responsible pot users. We hold good jobs, pay our rent/mortgages, pay our bills on time and pay our taxes. To me pot is like alcohol (without all the nasty side effects). You don't drive when high, you don't go to work high or do anything you shouldn't do while under the effect of alcohol (or marijuana). It's that simple. Think of the money that could be made in decriminalizing it. M. MCCARTNEY As a former nurse, I acknowledge some limited medicinal benefits of marijuana. As a father, taxpayer, conservative and all other things I represent, legalizing marijuana is just one more step down the slippery slope to social anarchy. In terms of probable damage to societal standards, legalizing marijuana will be as destructive as legalizing gay marriage, safe injection sites, abortion, no-fault divorce and any number of sociological lib/left experiments that have proven beyond any doubt their society-destroying capabilities. Canada: Where the demands of the individual trump the greater good every time. Pity. DERYCK Michael Coren states that "alcohol can be used responsibly, whereas any use of cannabis makes one incapable." It is quite obvious that Mr. Coren has never used marijuana, and therefore is in no position to comment on its effects. Fact is, cannabis can be used every bit as responsibly as alcohol. I guess he makes the assumption that all of us pot smokers are incapable of exercising control over the amount of the drug we ingest, and quite frankly I find the remark insulting. J. HARTLE I agree with Michael Coren. Marijuana is not a benign substance. It cannot be used responsibly and therefore needs to remain illegal. I have no sympathy for anyone who actually gets charged with and convicted of possession (of which there are far too few). They were all well aware of the consequences beforehand. CHARLIE My husband and I are on medical marijuana and we think it should be legalized. The police should be arresting people who rape and kill and kidnap and do harder drugs. C. CLAUDIO Marijuana is a DRUG in case most of you haven't noticed. Do you think for one minute that alcohol or tobacco would have been made legal knowing what we know now? I don't think so. Now research is starting to show that marijuana is not the harmless substance the majority of Canadians think it is. It should remain illegal. However, simple possession should be the subject of a fine or community service. JIM - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom