Pubdate: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 Source: Coquitlam Now, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2009Lower Mainland Publishing Group, Inc. Contact: http://www.thenownews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1340 Author: Dot Davies-Fuhrman Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09.n399.a02.html LEGALIZING POT WOULD PUT GANGS OUT OF BUSINESS There is a strong resemblance between the prohibition of alcohol in the 1930s and the prohibition of marijuana in the 2000s. Once the liquor prohibition was lifted in the '30s, the gangsters and bootleggers were put out of business, leaving millions to flow into Ottawa's treasury. Legalizing marijuana would have the same effect by putting the drug gangs out of business, putting hundreds of billions into Ottawa's treasury to help our economy and stopping the drug killings in our cities. I remember when the bootleggers stopped coming to our farm offering a large sum of money to put a still in our barn, and then everything went back to normal after the prohibition was lifted. The evil drug problem has now extended from Mexico through-out the U.S. and up into Canada, where we are seeing drug gangs taking over the safety of our cities. Increasing fines, extended jail terms and increasing our law enforcement is like putting a small bandage on a bleeding artery. The Middle and Far Eastern countries have used and lived with drugs for over 6,000 years because they know how to control them, and also use them for medical benefits. Our medical doctors are able to prescribe the use of marijuana for depression, eye problems and others ailments, but I have never heard of any prescriptions for alcohol. The Eastern countries forbid the use of alcohol as adamantly as we forbid the use of marijuana because we have not learned how to control its use. We only know the fears of excessive use. Alcohol and marijuana are both dangerous drugs if used in excess. It would be beneficial if the Eastern world and Western world got together to share their knowledge of these two presumably dangerous drugs so we can live with each and stop this carnage of our people and cities. As far as I know, marijuana studies have been going on for over 80 years with much the same results. In 1971 I wrote a university paper on the need for drug reform, and the conclusions were the same as now. We know an ounce of alcohol and a joint of marijuana has much the same effect and we have accepted an alcoholic drink at a noon-hour business lunch is perfectly normal. What is the difference? We are also fearing the ill effects of some prescription drugs that can harm our health, causing serious illness or even death if misused. The pharmaceutical manufacturers are dealing with billions and billions, but their product is regulated by federal law and their support comes from government and big business. My U.S. pharmaceutical friends have just informed me that their manager's starting wage is a cool $125,000 with a $40,000 yearly bonus. That is also big money. There appears little difference between the heroin addict, alcoholic, junkie, prescription drug addict or the glue-sniffing kid -- they are all sick people who need help. They are not criminals. It is unfortunate we are increasing our law enforcement and filling our jails in hopes of stopping these out-of-control drug gangs when removing the prohibition on marijuana will do the job more quickly and effectively -- but who in power who has the courage to speak up about this possible solution to stop this drug problem? Dot Davies-Fuhrman Kelowna - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin