Pubdate: Thu, 26 Feb 2015
Source: Langley Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Langley Times
Contact:  http://www.langleytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1230
Author: Celeste Beharrel

IT'S TIME TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA

Editor: The marijuana industry brings in around $7 billion a year. 
That money goes to criminals and drug dealers.

Meanwhile, the B.C. government is $63 billion in debt.

Ending cannabis prohibition would save a lot in the courts and on law 
enforcement, and restore the civil liberties that have been lost in 
the drug war.

Regulated sales would earn tax revenue, and transparency would ensure 
that there is public safety. In reality, tobacco and alcohol are 
proven to cause more bodily harm than marijuana, yet it is the 
illegal substance.

Not only does it cause less harm than other legal substances, 
marijuana can also mitigate nausea, appetite loss, pain and anxiety.

Marijuana was criminalized in 1923, along with heroin and codeine. 
Not many people were using marijuana at that time, let alone knowing 
much about it. There wasn't much discussion about it at that time.

Considering how much this substance is now affecting the population, 
it seems odd that it was criminalized without a second thought. How 
could we so easily criminalize something that we weren't educated about?

I plan to make my voice heard by voting Liberal in the October 
federal election, as the party supports legalization of marijuana.

Celeste Beharrell,

Langley
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom