Pubdate: Tue, 20 Jan 2009
Source: North Island Gazette (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 Black Press
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/Wy0dnBlK
Website: http://www.northislandgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2783
Author: Stan White
Referred: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n045/a07.html

COLUMNIST GETS IT RIGHT

Tom Fletcher (B.C. Losing the War On Drug Gangs, Jan. 13, 2009), 
isn't just accurately describing the way things are; he's also 
describing the direction things are moving too.

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 
if government doesn't want it, the money will be changing hands either way.

Stan White

Dillon, Colorado

USA
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom