Pubdate: Wed, 16 Sep 2009
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 The Vancouver Sun
Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Jodie Emery

FEDERAL DRUG POLICY MORE HARMFUL THAN CANNABIS

Massive marijuana-growing operations like the one busted recently in 
Chilliwack would cease to exist if the plants could be grown legally 
outdoors. Because of prohibition, growers are hiding marijuana 
indoors, booby traps are set to prevent theft and police hours and 
paycheques are inflated at a cost to taxpayers.

The federal government's continued prohibition of cannabis causes 
more harm than does the substance itself. That was the conclusion 
after intense and thorough study of the topic by the Senate Special 
Committee on Illegal Drugs in 2002.

It's abundantly clear that our ineffective drug laws waste money and 
destroy lives. Even worse, gangsters are making enormous amounts of 
money thanks to prohibition, a policy that inflates the price and the 
demand for marijuana.

Prohibition didn't work for alcohol, and it isn't working for drugs.

Jodie Emery

Editor, Cannabis Culture Magazine and B.C. Green party policing critic,

Vancouver
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