Pubdate: Wed, 23 Jan 2013 Source: National Post (Canada) Copyright: 2013 Canwest Publishing Inc. Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/wEtbT4yU Website: http://www.nationalpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286 Author: C. Gwendolyn Landolt Page: A9 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n039/a06.html THREE VOTES AGAINST LEGAL POT Re: Follow In America's Footsteps, Evan Wood & Werner Antweiler, Jan. 21. The article fails to disclose the truth about the dangers of marijuana and the consequences of legalizing it. To merely "tax and regulate cannabis" does not stop the violence associated with the drug trade, but opens the door to even higher levels of crime and violence as it does not stop the profit motivation of drug traffickers. In 2010, the U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that 51.8% of Americans used alcohol, 27.4% used tobacco and 8.9% used illicit drugs. The same high figures for alcohol and tobacco use will also apply to marijuana, if legalized. There is a wide disparity between tax revenue received from alcohol and tobacco sales and the health costs caused by their use. It results in greater economic and social costs to society because of the increased health care and enforcement, as well as loss of productivity in the workplace. The article also overlooks the dark side of marijuana use. It is a mood-altering drug capable of producing dependency. Adverse effects have been documented in terms of memory, learning, behaviour and functioning. C. Gwendolyn Landolt, national vice-president, REAL Women of Canada, Ottawa. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom