Over the last year, we've had numerous leaders from our province promoting the legalization of marijuana, from former city mayors, politicians, medical people, people who are generally "in the know."

In their defence, I think there is sincerity in their motives. For some they are concerned with the potential tragedy of young people ending up in jail or having their future careers damaged by charges related to the possession of a few ounces of marijuana. And in all fairness, the war on drugs hasn't been effective. But what I'm wrestling with is, will decriminalizing marijuana solve the problem? By that logic we could empty all the prisons if we just decriminalized prostitution and thievery and murder and . . .

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