Pubdate: Wed, 28 Oct 1998
Source: Halifax Daily News (Canada)
Copyright: 1998 The Daily News.
Contact:  http://www.hfxnews.southam.ca/
Author: Alun Buffry

PROHIBITION NOT WORKING

To the editor:

Well said, Dana Larsen (Letters, The Daily News, Oct. 20) "It
(marijuana) is one of the safest herbs known to man, and if more
people are using marijuana, then less of them are using one of these
other, dangerously toxic drugs."

The truth is coming out at last. The safety record of cannabis over
the last few thousands years of use by hundreds of millions of people
around the world, has been confirmed by every major official empirical
and scientific study conducted this century.

All the "Reefer Madness" claims have long been dismissed and cannabis
is exonerated from harmfulness. So why is it still illegal to grow and
use cannabis in almost every country in the world? Could there be some
hidden motive behind cannabis prohibition rather than a concern over
public health?

Considering the huge number of dangerous substances readily available,
even to kids, there is clearly a huge hypocrisy involved.

Could it be the drug, alcohol, and tobacco companies who finance
anti-drugs campaigns fear for their profits?

The only result of these laws is the alienation and criminalization of
otherwise law-abiding citizens and kids.

Alun Buffry, Campaign to Legalize Cannabis International Association
Norwich, Norfolk, England Via the Internet
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Checked-by: Patrick Henry