Pubdate: Fri, 30 Sep 2011 Source: National Post (Canada) Copyright: 2011 Canwest Publishing Inc. Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/wEtbT4yU Website: http://www.nationalpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286 Author: Jim Dean Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n597/a03.html?1441 .OR DOES IT? The recently announced omnibus crime bill once again underscores the importance of revisiting the prohibition of marijuana in Canada and our failed war on drugs. This bill will undoubtedly cause an explosion in our inmate population as at least 45% of Canadians (13.5 million) have tried marijuana and up to 20% claim to use it regularly. Marijuana is dangerous to our society because it is completely controlled by criminals. Since there is such demand for this product, we need to treat marijuana like alcohol or tobacco, and society would benefit in terms of sales tax and new jobs. Conversely, the new crime bill will cost taxpayers untold billions of dollars and turn more people into criminals for something that almost half of us have chosen to partake in. Let's choose regulation, not incarceration. Jim Dean Ottawa - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.