Pubdate: Fri, 04 May 2012
Source: Kelowna Capital News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012, West Partners Publishing Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.kelownacapnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1294
Author: Moni Schiller
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n258/a03.html

DECRIMINALIZING POT IS THE INTELLIGENT THING TO DO

To the editor:

I wasn't in the least bit surprised to read our mayor (Walter Gray)
chose not to sign a letter in support of decriminalization of
marijuana. (Mayor Steers Clear of Legal Pot Debate, May 1 Capital
News) After all, Kelowna is a right-leaning community and he believes
he needs to pander to his base.

However, the mayors of towns like Lake Country and Vernon signed the
letter, and their inhabitants aren't more liberal in their views than
we are. It just appears these mayors are willing to take a progressive
position on it. They're joining attorneys-general, senators and other
intelligent people in speaking out in favour of decriminalization.

Spending billions of dollars enforcing a prohibition that doesn't work
is wasteful beyond words. When compared to tobacco or alcohol, neither
of which has ever been prescribed as medicine, it seems a fairly
benign substance.

If pot is decriminalized, people like my son's friend's mom with
cancer, could grow her own to alleviate her symptoms.

Instead, her son has to go to the Hell's Angels for pot. How this
makes any sense, I don't know.

Moni Schiller

Kelowna
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt