Pubdate: Thu, 24 Feb 2011
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2011 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/send_a_letter
Website: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502
Author: Bill Martin

CRIMINAL LOGIC

The federal government is planning to criminalize yet another 
substance, in this case, salvia. MP Shelley Glover states that the 
government is "very worried about the long-term effects" of using the 
herb (Feds eye ban on obscure herb, Feb. 22).

Following this logic, we should soon be expecting that cigarettes, 
sugar and salt will also be criminalized, in total denial of the fact 
that, in the 1920s, the criminalization of alcohol was a massive 
failure that contributed hugely to the growth of organized crime in 
North America.

And now, if Glover has her way, our police forces, courts and jails 
will be distracted from approaches to fighting crime that work to 
engage instead in a war on a new drug, salvia. And the criminal 
element will be given a monopoly on yet another substance, which they 
will surely accept, and proceed to work towards creating addicts who 
will then resort to crime in order to pay for their habits.

Does anyone in the federal government have any idea what they are doing?

BILL MARTIN

Gimli
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom