Pubdate: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB) Copyright: 2009 Winnipeg Free Press Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/send_a_letter Website: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502 Section: Letter of the day Author: Russell Barth WONDERLAND-LY ABSURD Re: Pot proponents come out in full force (April 21) The whole issue of marijuana legalization demonstrates the insanity and hypocrisy inherent in our society. These 4/20 people are asking that a herb with dozens of medical applications be legalized and regulated into the legitimate economy -- not just so they can enjoy it, but also so it will reduce the profits reaped by gangsters due to the prohibition on it, and reduce the public violence and soaring costs associated with it. These "potheads" want something that is unregulated and subsidizing gangsters to be regulated and taxed, but the government and police want it to remain unregulated and controlled by gangsters. Yet the potheads get labelled as the crazy ones. All over a herb that has never killed a single person in the history of mankind. Seriously, this issue is completely, utterly, Alice-In-Wonderland-ly absurd. Russell Barth Patients Against Ignorance and Discrimination on Cannabis Nepean, Ont. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart