Pubdate: Wed, 11 Jan 2012
Source: Sooke News Mirror (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Stan White
Contact:  http://www.sookenewsmirror.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2142
Author: Stan White
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n019/a12.html

RESPONSE TO LEGAL MARIJUANA ISSUE

Re: "Health officer back legal marijuana" Sooke News Mirror, Jan. 4, 2012.

It's commendable that B.C. public health officers recognize the 
obvious pitfalls of cannabis (marijuana) prohibition however, some 
clarifications must be made. Cannabis may not be totally safe but it 
hasn't directly killed anyone in over 5,000 years of documented use. 
That's safety on a Biblical scale.

Cannabis should be RE-legalized, regulated and taxed because it is 
far safer than alcohol and it is here for the duration anyway. Why 
keep forcing the dangerous underground black market to regulate a 
business that is guaranteed to continue?

Citizens, including teens, who purchase cannabis may be doing so from 
people who also sell hard drugs which increases hard drug addiction 
rates. Selling the extremely popular God-given plant cannabis like 
alcohol would remove hard drugs from the equation.

One recent study even indicates states which have legalized medical 
cannabis are experiencing lower alcohol usage and less traffic 
fatalities (Study: States That Legalized Medical Pot See Decrease, 
The Missoulian, Dec. 28, 2011).

Stan White

Dillon, Colorado
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