Pubdate: Tue, 23 Mar 2010
Source: Packet & Times (CN ON)
Copyright: 2010 Osprey Media Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.orilliapacket.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2397
Author: Dave Breakenridge

CANADIANS DESERVE SMART DEBATE ON DRUGS

In the grand scheme of things, marijuana policy isn't  likely to bring
about a change of government.

Despite surveys showing a majority of Canadians approve  legalizing
possession of small amounts of pot, the law  isn't changing any time
soon.

But that hasn't stopped advocates from pressuring the  prime minister
on the subject, nor has it prohibited,  pardon the pun, Stephen Harper
from sounding like an  early-1900s social reformer trying to ban the
demon  drink.

Marijuana prohibition was the hottest topic among the  questions
submitted prior to the PM's YouTube interview  last week, and he was
gracious enough to give an  answer.

But instead of coming off with the intelligence he's  known for, or
even as the master obfuscator he has  become, Harper hilariously
morphed into Mr. Mackey, the  guidance counsellor from the
rabble-rousing animated  showSouth Park.

"The reason drugs are illegal is because they are bad,"  he said,
after a preamble about his kids, and  completely negating studies that
show marijuana really  isn't all that harmful.

He went on to comment on how drugs are controlled by  evil foreign
cartels, and even if they were legalized,  they would never be a
respectable business.

If respectability were such a concern, it's a wonder he  hasn't taken
a run at the tobacco industry, porn or  payday loan companies.

But hey, he's a conservative politician preaching a law  and order
agenda. No one can be all that surprised.

What's galling about all this is the utter  condescension shown the
reasonable opinion of a  majority of Canadians.

But he's in good company.

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff, who as an Ivy League  egghead
probably saw enough trust fund babies find  success while doing far
worse than smoking pot,  laughably told a group of high school kids
they're  practically pointing a loaded gun at their heads by  lighting
up a "marijuana cigarette."

The least these two supposedly smart men could try to  offer, in
defending their positions on the matter, is  some actual intelligent
debate, rather than talking to  Canadians as if they were their
pre-teen children.

It's one thing to offer a kid a rote response, but  adults deserve
better. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D