Pubdate: Sat, 25 Apr 2009
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 Times Colonist
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/letters.html
Website: http://www.timescolonist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Ted Child
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n455/a05.html

LEGALIZING POT MAKES SENSE

I agree with Justice Minister Rob Nicholson that marijuana is being 
used as "currency" to bring harder drugs into the province 
("Minister: Pot used as currency in drug world," April 23) but I 
don't see how this is an argument for mandatory prison sentences -- 
rather, it's another reason to decriminalize pot.

If pot manufacturing and distribution was done legitimately it would 
be a serious blow to organized crime, which would no longer have that 
cash crop. Many otherwise law-abiding Canadians are forced to engage 
with a criminal class because they choose to use pot, a fairly benign 
drug compared to nicotine and alcohol. Do we really need to throw 
Canadians in prison for smoking a joint?

Ted Child

Victoria
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