Pubdate: Tue, 07 Aug 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: Brian R. Mellis

WE'D BE CRAZY TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA

To the editor:

In response to Darrin Fiddler's letter to the editor with regard to
marijuana, he has omitted several points that need mentioning.

To some degree I feel like an under-achiever as I do not have any of
the vices that Mr. Fiddler claimed we all harbor, but as a pilot and
businessman, I have had experience in the past with marijuana users.

When serving my apprenticeship in a steel fabricating shop, my life
and those of my crew shift were almost ended by the overhead gantry
crane driver. He scattered the crew with a 20-ton load of sheet steel
wildly swinging over our heads (followed by) a big silly grin on his
face and a "peace" sign for all.

Legalize marijuana? Ask our almost-widows.

As a businessman who travels to the USA frequently, a hitchhiker
needing a lift compromised my passage. The cannabis resin in his
clothing, although minute, transferred to the car seats, was enough to
catch the attention of the Drug Enforcement Agency dog handler.

Questions were asked, an entry made on my data file, and (I
experience) delays now in crossing the border.

Of note, this incident happened two weeks after he had been in my
car.

The DEA do not have a permissive attitude-they are fully aware of the
damage done to the social and economic well being of their country and
respond in kind.

Legalize marijuana?

Sadly many adults in responsible position, who are addicted to
marijuana (but deny it) dismiss it as a social outlet. Regrettably it
is the children who are watching and learning who lack the maturity to
make a judgment call on its use, who are set on the road to dependency
and the rest of the "benefits."

These so called "benefits" include: Dropping out of school, inability
to concentrate, can't keep a job, indolence, violence, bush
parties/forest fires and many time leading them to living on the streets.

On the adult side: Broken homes, unemployable, lack of ambition,
breaking and entering, no international travel privileges, drive-by
shootings, etc. The list is long and downward.

The benefits? None comes to mind-ask the gantry crane
driver.

I thank our government and law enforcement agencies for standing tall
on this one. This is one disaster that you won't want to meet coming
at you on a rainy night with your family strapped in the car.

Or how about the captain of your 737 shooting a difficult instrument
landing approach to minimums on a stormy night?

Legalize marijuana? Right!

Brian R. Mellis,

West Kelowna
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MAP posted-by: Matt