Pubdate: Thu, 20 May 2010 Source: Kamloops Daily News (CN BC) Copyright: 2010 Kamloops Daily News Contact: http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/679 Author: Ken Salter ANTI-MARIJUANA LAWS DON'T WORK Why would we support an amendment - Bill S-10 - to a law that was ruled 'constitutionally invalid' by a judge in Oshawa, Ont. On Oct. 19, 2007? The law prohibits the possession of marijuana. This issue has yet to be resolved. Have we learned nothing from the American experience, of spending a trillion dollars on the 'War on Drugs,' and now having more drug users, and cheaper drugs than ever. Countries where marijuana is legal have some of the lowest rates of use by youth. There is no thrill of breaking the law. If people could grow marijuana in their back yards, it would be worthless, the dealing on the street would go away, organized crime would take a big hit, and we would save millions in police, court and correction costs, and we would stop criminalizing our youth by denying them travel and education and meaningful job opportunities by giving them a criminal record for a victimless crime. KEN SALTER Kamloops - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D