Pubdate: Wed, 24 Apr 2013
Source: Coquitlam Now, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013Lower Mainland Publishing Group, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.thenownews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1340
Note: Guest editorial from the North Shore News

BLAZING A TRAIL FOR SENSIBLE POT LAWS

Another April 20, another 4/20 rally in which recreational pot
enthusiasts gather en masse, light up their doobies in defiance of the
man, and let the world know they think marijuana should be legal, or
at least decriminalized.

It may seem like a juvenile act of insubordination, but the 4/20
rallies have evolved from futile gatherings and spawned a larger and
far more credible pro-marijuana legalization campaign. The movement to
reform the country's ridiculous pot laws now wears a suit or lab coat,
not a Bob Marley T-shirt.

It has become tedious making the intellectual argument year after year
that on a legal, public health and safety level our existing laws make
no sense.

But Stop the Violence B.C., the group of like-minded doctors,
academics and law enforcement professionals pushing to legalize the
drug, continue to add high-profile names to the list of converts
willing to go public with their arguments.

According to recent polls released by STVBC, the vast majority of
British Columbians are onside with a legalization and taxation model
for marijuana policy. The rest of Canada is not far behind either.

We've seen a trend of politicians "coming out" as pro-legalization
only after they're out of office, or supporting it in name only when
they are trying to get elected. It's the ones in power now who need to
look at the overwhelming evidence that it's time for reform.

So go ahead and have the rallies, they look like fun. But if the war
is to be won any time soon, it's going to have to happen in the halls
of power - and they don't let you smoke in there.

- - Guest editorial from the North Shore News 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D