Pubdate: Tue, 20 Jan 2009
Source: Surrey Leader (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 Surrey Leader
Contact:  http://www.surreyleader.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1236
Author: Stan White
Referred: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n045/a05.html

A NEED TO REGULATE MARIJUANA CONSUMPTION

Re: BC losing war on drug gangs, B.C. Views, Jan. 14).

Tom Fletcher isn't just accurately describing the way things are; 
he's describing the direction things are moving to.

In the early 1970s the Le Dain Commission's report along with 
Canada's 2002 Senate Committee on Illegal Drugs report unanimously 
recommended to regulate cannabis (marijuana) the same way as alcohol.

Since Canada ignored those recommendations, the problems associated 
with prohibiting the relatively safe, socially acceptable, God-given 
plant cannabis have escalated. And it's not limited to Canada; look 
at what's happening in the U.S. and Mexico.

Millions of North Americans have utter contempt for the continent's 
discredited cannabis laws, which are nothing more than government 
subsidized discrimination.

Millions of North Americans demand cannabis and one way or the other 
that demand will be honoured. Cannabis will be cultivated and it will 
increase rather than decrease.

Except for those who profit, nearly every person who uses cannabis 
would prefer to acquire it from regulated sources but all will 
purchase it in the black market if necessary. It's just a matter of 
who consumers give their money to.

Right now consumers are ready, willing, able and eager to give it to 
regulated sources along with its share of taxes to government but not 
if government doesn't want it.

The money is changing hands either way.

Stan White

Dillon, Colorado
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom