Pubdate: Tue, 26 Aug 2014
Source: Guardian, The (CN PI)
Copyright: 2014 Gary Naylor
Contact:  http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/174
Author: Gary Naylor

LEGALIZATION WOULD BE WRONG

Editor:

The present debate on legalization of marijuana is important,
interesting and was held about 100 years ago with regard to liquor;
those in favour of wide-open liquor availability winning the fight. So
what's the big deal now with marijuana?

There are those who would quibble and point out that alcohol causes
thousands of alcohol-related deaths annually in North America; many of
those killed being innocent and sober victims of the drinkers. These
same quibblers would no doubt also point out that health problems
related to alcohol abuse cost our health systems dearly and that the
societal cost to families affected by an alcoholic member is
incalculable.

Is the foregoing any reason that we the public should be doubtful
about legalizing marijuana use?

After all, organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) have done
wonders at rehabilitating alcohol abusers at no cost to health care,
and while it is true that Canada alone spends billions in trying to
rehabilitate, often unsuccessfully, users of illegal drugs, is that
any reason to deny the users of marijuana legal access?

Alcohol largely leaves the body of a drunk in less than a day of
sobriety, while certain drug effects stay with the user for a week,
and in some circumstances is dangerous to others on the road or in the
workplace. Would legalization of marijuana lead to demands for the
legalization of other now-illegal drugs?

Recovered alcoholics had the determination and moral fibre to cure
themselves with the help of AA and others. What I have seen of the
"illegal drug" addicts is their plea of being victims and their
expectation of the health-care system being responsible for their
cure; which appears to often be the provision of replacement drugs.
Can we expect better if drugs that are now illegal are legalized? Is
Canadian health care prepared for the cost of ongoing periodic "public
safety" drug tests of all surgeons, police officers, bus and truck
drivers and pilots plus an absolute plethora of tradesmen, teachers
and others who I want to be sure are drug free when I need them?

Canadian legalization of marijuana would be a mistake.

Gary Naylor, Victoria West 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D