Pubdate: Tue, 27 Nov 2012
Source: Montreal Gazette (CN QU)
Copyright: 2012 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/letters.html
Website: http://www.montrealgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/274
Author: John Hall

A TAX ON POT COULD SUBSIDIZE EDUCATION

Re: "Sometimes playing nice doesn't work" (Henry Aubin, Nov. 24)

I agree with Henry Aubin's column on the student protests, but would 
like to add the following suggestion:

The Quebec Government could legalize the recreational use of 
marijuana and tax it as just another sin tax. At least two states in 
the U.S. have done this, and possibly most Quebecers, and especially 
students (and professors), would be in favour.

The huge amount of money that would be saved on law enforcement 
should be used exclusively to subsidize education.

However, the cost of any police activity directly linked to future 
student protests should then come from the same fund, to act as a 
deterrent to disruptive anti-social behaviour.

I suppose some will object, but having not seen, so far, any creative 
compromises on how to deal with the issue, it might be worth a try.

John Hall

Montreal
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