Pubdate: Wed, 29 Apr 2015
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2015 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/wEtbT4yU
Website: http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: Robert Sharpe
Page: A9
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n230/a08.html

HARPER'S GRASS STAIN

Re: Where Every Day Is 4/20, editorial, April 27.

Now that two neighbouring U.S. states have legalized marijuana, 
Ottawa can no longer claim Canada must uphold marijuana prohibition 
in order to maintain good U.S. relations. Canadian policy-makers 
should ignore the reefer-madness hysteria of Prime Minister Stephen 
Harper and instead look to their Senate for guidance. In the words of 
recently deceased Senator Pierre Claude Nolin, "scientific evidence 
overwhelmingly indicates that cannabis is substantially less harmful 
than alcohol and should be treated not as a criminal issue but as a 
social and public health issue." Senator Nolin headed up a 2002 
Canadian Senate study that found marijuana is relatively benign, 
prohibition contributes to organized crime, and law enforcement 
efforts have little impact on patterns of use.

Robert Sharpe, policy analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy, Washington, D.C.
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