Pubdate: Sat, 07 Feb 2009 Source: National Post (Canada) Copyright: 2009 Canwest Publishing Inc. Contact: http://www.nationalpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286 Author: Tim Ross WHAT WE LEARNED FROM THE MICHAEL PHELPS SAGA The Michael Phelps saga should wake us all up: it is time for a determined effort to legalize marijuana in Canada. Given that many Canadian provinces are monopoly liquor retailers and that governments have no qualms about collecting tobacco tax revenue or gambling proceeds, the prohibited legal status of cannabis sativa is morally untenable. I do not use pot myself, but am tired of living in a country where one can face serious legal repercussions (and concomitant economic consequences) for indulging in a little pleasure. If a major political party were to embrace legal pot, it would be well on its way to a majority. Tim Ross Whitby, Ont. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin