Pubdate: Wed, 02 May 2012
Source: Daily Courier, The (CN BC)
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/5NyOACet
Copyright: 2012 The Okanagan Valley Group of Newspapers
Website: http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/531
Author: Larry Calvin

ENDING PROHIBITION WORKED FOR BOOZE, WHY NOT POT?

The editor reasons that "gangs won't go easily," that they won't give 
up the huge profits and would continue to operate in spite of 
legalization of pot.

This ignores the fact those high prices and profits exist because the 
product is only available on the black market.

The gangs aren't marketing any product that is legal because they 
can't compete, otherwise they would be in tomatoes or ladies dresses. 
He also conveniently ignores the fact that the war on pot in 
particular was lost long ago and that every one including police admit it.

If the editor's reasoning and arguments are sound, then they should 
have applied to the prohibition of alcohol.

The facts are the legalization of alcohol and government control 
ended overnight the gangsterism and the huge profits.

I am not aware of any rum-running on our shores, haven't happened on 
any speak easys in back lanes of Kelowna and haven't heard of an 
outbreak of illegal stills in every subdivision of our city. The 
reason for that is that legal alcohol is available.

Prohibition creates the black market and attracts organized crime. 
Legalization and government control remove the profit motive and 
incentive for underground competition.

If pot is such a dangerous drug and therefore we need to criminalize 
its use, where is the evidence. I challenge you to show me the detox 
for potheads, to name the reserves in the North that have been 
decimated by its use, the skidrows where the users hang out and beg 
for dimes so they can buy a bag, the cases of violent behaviours by 
users brought before our courts or the family violence precipitated.

I can point you in those directions when it comes to alcohol without 
even mentioning the billions in health care and death it causes.

The hypocrisy of those who rant about pot over their cocktails is astounding.

Larry Calvin, Kelowna
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom