Pubdate: Wed, 21 Nov 2012
Source: Northern View, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 The Northern View
Contact:  http://www.thenorthernview.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4366
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n584/a08.html

THOMAS RIGHT ON POT DEBATE

Editor:

Re: Shaun Thomas' Nov. 14 column, Prince Rupert Northern View.

Now that neighbouring Washington State and Colorado have legalized
marijuana, Ottawa can no longer claim Canada must uphold marijuana
prohibition in order to maintain good U.S. relations.

In 2002, the Canadian Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs
concluded that marijuana is relatively benign, prohibition contributes
to organized crime, and law enforcement efforts have little impact on
patterns of use.

Consider the experience of the former land of the free and current
world leader in per capita incarceration. The U.S. has double the rate
of marijuana use as the Netherlands, where marijuana is legally available.

The only winners in the war on marijuana are drug cartels and
shameless tough-on-drugs politicians who confuse the drug war's
tremendous collateral damage with a comparatively harmless plant.

Robert Sharpe, MPA

Policy Analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, D.C.
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