Pubdate: Thu, 23 Oct 2014
Source: News, The (New Glasgow, CN NS)
Copyright: 2014 Transcontinental Inc.
Contact:  http://www.ngnews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3343
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n808/a13.html
Author: Raymond Wiseman
Page: 6

LEGALIZING MARIJUANA WOULD PROVIDE GOVERNMENT WITH CASH

To the Editor:

In the "Our Opinion" "An argument missing the point" the writer 
mentioned "... Its call for legalization ... Currently, other than 
medicinal marijuana, it's in the hands of criminals. ... The real 
debate we need to hear from politicians has to be based on available evidence."

Since the 80s, many people have come to decide that drug prohibition 
has resulted in harshness in enforcing it, great expense, and has 
been ineffective. Consequently, they have advocated drug 
decriminalization and even outright drug legalization. In addition, 
they refer to the history of a drug - alcohol, from temperance 
(1800s) to prohibition (19201933) and then to alcohol control 
(legalization). They stated that the anti-alcohol movement was 
devoted to convincing people that drinking alcohol was dangerous and 
destructive; that the consumption of alcohol naturally would lead to 
compulsive use or addiction. Then point out the same argument is made 
for marijuana. Reaching back to the failures of alcohol prohibition, 
they try to see similarities with the general illegalization of marijuana.

In the late 20th century, many began to claim that the national drug 
prohibition was not working. It was claimed that a national drug 
prohibition for such as cannabis, was "similar to" or "like" alcohol 
prohibition, that it was not only a historical extension but a 
continuation of it. From the push, many regional and local 
governments, have reformed their drug policies, adopting less 
criminalized forms of drug prohibition. The direction is to encourage 
governments to withdrawing from drug prohibition. The proponents 
state that if the government only controls it, children and teenagers 
would be prohibited from obtaining marijuana. It would eliminate the 
illegal sales of it.

The truth be told, that did not occur with alcohol control nor 
tobacco control. Children and teens still are able to obtain it. They 
are able to use it and in great numbers. Marijuana prohibition does 
not prevent criminals from producing it for sale nor people from 
obtaining it for use. Neither will the control of marijuana by the 
government end these. The real accomplishment with marijuana control 
would be that the government would have another source of income.

The negative results for our society and health care would still 
exist as it does with alcohol and tobacco. In addition, as the 
government would raise the sin tax to combat the ill effects (as with 
alcohol and tobacco) and discourage its use, the illegal use would increase.

Let's work together to help create this 'community gathering place' 
for our children, adults and seniors, where we can all learn from each other.

Raymond Wiseman New Glasgow,N.S.
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