Pubdate: Thu, 03 May 2012
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 The Vancouver Sun
Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Ted Cooper
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n249/a01.html

LEGALIZING MARIJUANA IS A HALF-BAKED IDEA

Re.: Jodie Emery rises to the occasion, Column, April 28.

There are so many negatives associated with pot smoking, especially 
by youth, that the proposal to legalize it appears ludicrous.

An addiction specialist advised me, "It is important for 
policy-makers to recognize that while marijuana may be seen a 
'moderate' drug in its effects on adults, it has serious short-and 
long-term negative effects on young people."

He said, "Anything marijuana can do I can do with orthodox medicine." 
And then there are tablet forms of the active marijuana medicinals in 
Cesamet and Marinol. So what is so special about the plant?

And he continued, "Contrary to current myth, prohibition did work, in 
that there was a dramatic reduction of documented alcohol-related 
morbidity and mortality during the prohibition years."

Increasing liquor store outlets leads to increased consumption. That 
is, availability drives consumption.

The large marijuana underground is operating tax-free, and will 
jealously guard their income. What will motivate people to buy a more 
regulated expensive product? Consider the millions of dollars in lost 
revenue from smuggled cigarettes, a legal product.

There will be money to be made - but not by the mayors. The manpower 
used to combat marijuana usage and dealing will simply be transferred 
to stamping out the tax dodging under-ground movement like the fabled 
battles between hillbilly moonshiners and revenooers.

Ted Cooper

Powell River
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom