Pubdate: Thu, 12 Mar 2009
Source: Independent, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2009 Metroland Media Group Ltd.
Contact: http://www.northumberlandnews.com/opinion/submitletter
Website: http://northumberlandnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1596
Author: Russell Barth
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n270/a02.html

LEGALIZE MARIJUANA, AVOID THEFT

To the Editor:

Re: Licensed marijuana growers need legal protection (March 5)

As long as marijuana is illegal for most but legal for us, it will
continue to be a hot commodity for the criminal world. The way to
solve this problem is to legalize and regulate pot so that people can
buy it from commercial growers or grow some themselves.

People can buy beer and wine from commercial producers, or make it at
home, so why aren't people allowed to do the same with pot? Because
police love prohibition, that's why. It keeps the crime rate high
enough to justify their existence.

It should also be noted these federal pot licenses are only
regulations, and have never been enacted as law. This is causing a
number of legal conundrums where non-legislated federal regulations
run contrary to provincial laws - meaning users cannot obey one law
without breaking another.

Russell Barth Federally licensed medical marijuana user

Patients Against Ignorance and Discrimination on Cannabis - www.paidoc.org
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin