Pubdate: Thu, 15 Nov 2012
Source: Monday Magazine (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Monday Publications
Contact: http://mondaymag.com/contact/
Website: http://www.mondaymag.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1150
Author: Robert Sharpe

MARIJUANA PROHIBITION HAS FAILED

Re: Editor's Note, Nov. 8 - 14

RCMP marijuana eradication efforts are no doubt well-intended, but 
ultimately counterproductive. The drug war's distortion of immutable 
laws of supply and demand causes big money to grow on little trees. 
Canadian tax dollars are wasted on anti-drug strategies that only 
make marijuana growing more profitable. In 2002, the Canadian senate 
offered a common sense alternative to prohibition when the Special 
Committee on Illegal Drugs concluded that marijuana is relatively 
benign, marijuana prohibition contributes to organized crime, and law 
enforcement efforts have little impact on patterns of use. Consider 
the experience of Canada's southern neighbour, the former land of the 
free and current record holder in citizens incarcerated. Based on 
findings that criminal records are inappropriate as health 
interventions, a majority of European Union countries have 
decriminalized marijuana. Despite marijuana prohibition and perhaps 
because of forbidden fruit appeal, lifetime use of marijuana is 
higher in the U.S. than any European country. The short-term health 
effects of marijuana are inconsequential compared to the long-term 
effects of criminal records. Canada should follow the lead of Europe 
and Just Say No to the American Inquisition.

Robert Sharpe,

Washington, DC
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom