Regarding the editorial Emery's high hopes a political downer? (Aug. 15). Nice to see that reefer madness is still alive and well and living in London Ontario. I refer of course to your lopsided tirade against Marc Emery. Most of the anti-Marc media I have read recently seems to be nothing more than an attempt to discredit the person, neatly side-stepping the actual issue, which is the ridiculous continuation of prohibition. I say more power to you Mr. Emery. Paul Blakey Sechelt, BC [end]
Re "Lost Dowd in high weeds" (Notes from the Neon Babylon, July 10): Great column regarding marijuana edibles. Just as most people have to suffer the seriously unpleasant effects of alcohol poisoning before they truly understand how to use that well known drug, so do people need to learn how to dose themselves on edibles. As one who suffered an MJ overdose more than 40 years ago, I have been absolutely gun shy around pot munchies. One of the best things that should come out of legalization is an understanding of dosage, regulated content and potency of edibles. I can't wait. I would love to be able to eat just enough to relax me to sleep. Roll on, reefer sanity! Paul Blakey via email [end]
The sad thing about the Cons softening on pot is that it is nothing more than a smoke screen. Something to make it appear that they are listening to the will of the people but in actuality it is just more of the same old, same old. Prohibition is the problem, let's take off the Reefer Madness spectacles and look at the abundant science that has said for many years that the physical and mental effects of cannabis are minimal. My money is on Justin. Paul Blakey (WHAT ARE YOU SMOKING?) [end]
Editor: Re: "Eager to fight grow ops now," Times editorial Dec. 20, 2012 The only thing this new legislation is going to do is make it harder for people who need medical marijuana to get the cannabis strain they need. It will have no effect on illegal production, except possibly to increase prices which will make it even more attractive to the criminal underworld. Full legalization: treat cannabis like wine, allow people to grow it in their own backyards. The Harper government cares nothing for science or for compassion, it is an ideological battle that they are determined to win. The war on drugs is over. The drug warriors lost, they just can't admit it yet. P. Blakey [end]
Dear Editor Re: Legalizing drugs (Coast Reporter, Nov 9th, '07) The decriminalization of marijuana should be the first step toward a rational drug policy. The huge sums of money that the United States (and Canada) spends each year just to process marijuana arrests would be available to fund more useful endeavours, such as treatment for substance abusers. The profit from selling marijuana on the black market would fall. Although marijuana does not turn teenagers into serial killers, it is a powerful intoxicant. Marijuana use by young people should be strongly discouraged. Lying to kids about marijuana's effects, however, only encourages them to doubt warnings about much more dangerous drugs such as heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine. Drug education programs should respect the intelligence of young people by promoting healthy lives without scare tactics, lies and hypocrisy. And drug abuse should be treated like alcoholism or nicotine addiction. These are health problems suffered by North Americans of every race, creed and political affiliation, not grounds for imprisonment or the denial of property rights. [continues 85 words]
