Pubdate: Tue, 06 Aug 2013
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Times Colonist
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/letters.html
Website: http://www.timescolonist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: William Tate
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n380/a09.html

TIME HAS COME TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA

Re: "Pot shouldn't guide political agendas," Aug. 4.

Iain Hunter's column misses the point that legalization of marijuana 
is an idea whose time has come.

The war on marijuana closely resembles Prohibition and the war on 
alcohol in the early 20th century. The public rejected the censorship 
and continued drinking.

Prohibition created organized crime and gangs to provide the booze. 
Society was threatened not by alcohol then, but by the growing 
strength of organized crime.

Similarly today, government has its head in the sand on the marijuana issue.

There are many benefits to society by legalization of marijuana:

* Huge savings in court and policing costs.

* Huge taxes can be added to the government coffers.

* Organized crime will shrink from the loss of income.

* The tremendous potential of hemp production will also stimulate the 
economy by all its uses.

* People will no longer be considered criminals and incarcerated by 
this choice of recreation.

William Tate Victoria
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom