Pubdate: Wed, 07 Aug 2013
Source: Recorder & Times, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2013 Recorder and Times
Contact: http://www.recorder.ca/letters
Website: http://www.recorder.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2216
Author: Monte Solberg
Page: A6

TRUDEAU LIKES LEGAL POT, BUT HASN'T ANSWERED HARD QUESTIONS

I have peered into the future and Justin Trudeau was nowhere in
sight.

Not true. I could make him out vaguely through a cloud of
sweet-smelling smoke. He seemed relaxed.

The good news is he wasn't at 24 Sussex Drive.

The bad news is I only looked ahead a month.

If I'm a mystic, I'm a minor mystic. I have weak and unreliable powers
but occasionally I guess correctly; kind of like a pollster but
without the appearance of being scientific. But let's start by
predicting the past. We know Justin has famously called for the full
legalization of marijuana. Good. Very groovy politics.

Young people and old hipsters finally have someone they can totally
relate to.

You can almost hear them saying, "Justin gets me."

Sadly, however, they are also the folks most likely to forget to
vote.

Hey, I get the arguments for legalization. Who isn't tired of the war
on drugs? War is such a downer. Then, of course, Justin tells us that
legalization would mean we could license, tax and control marijuana.

He tells us we would keep it out of the hands of young
people.

Wow, that sounds terrific. And then, of course, anytime someone says
it's about freedom I stand and salute. How can you be against freedom?

But when you look closely at the idea of legalization, problems sprout
up like so much B.C. bud in a Surrey grow-op.

For instance, if it was legalized, why wouldn't people just grow it at
home to avoid the taxes?

It's not as though growing it is difficult.

Wouldn't that in turn mean more access for young people?

What about the difficulties around impaired driving?

It's already difficult for the police to test for drug impairment.
Wouldn't legalizing marijuana compound the problem?

Then, of course, there's that small issue of how this would be viewed
by our neighbours to the south.

Crossing the border is already a major and costly hassle. But legalize
pot and we go from hassle to the snap of the rubber glove and massive
queues at borders and airports.

Justin hasn't addressed any of those hard questions and that's the way
with Justin.

He called for legalization and then vanished in that cloud of
controversial smoke.

The questions hang in the air never to be answered because he has
already moved on to even newer things.

Next he will declare the Arctic should be carbon free, no one should
be mean, we should start every day by looking at a picture of a pony,
we should imagine world peace, we should like the UN on Facebook.

He will drift on the lazy current of progressive opinion, giving off
positive vibes and thinking good thoughts, but without ever explaining
or engaging on the facts.

Nor will he seriously take up the mundane issues at the centre of
western civilization.

We know what he thinks about marijuana, but what about the economy,
productivity, national security or safe streets? Some things are just
way too boring and complicated.

Much better to flit in and out like a charming, mischievous elf;
majoring on the minors, thrilling liberals and, in every sense,
stirring the pot.
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MAP posted-by: Matt