Pubdate: Tue, 20 Jun 2000 Source: Press, The (New Zealand) Copyright: 2000 The Christchurch Press Company Ltd. Contact: Private Bag 4722, Christchurch, New Zealand Fax: +64-3-364-8238 Website: http://www.press.co.nz/ Author: P. J. Shamy Note: Headline supplied by newshawk TOBACCO, ALCOHOL NO REASON TO LEGALISE CANNABIS Sir - I have read with interest, amusement, and dismay the debate about legalising or decriminalising cannabis. While undoubtedly the label "criminal" is too strong to be attached to someone who indulges this weakness, sometimes what users do under its influence or to fund its purchase, does justify the label. To say we have addictive, harmful, legal drugs is no basis to legalise another. The real difference is social cost; I wonder how many drinkers or tobacco users go on to try heroin. How many young girls are prostituting themselves for tobacco or a beer? How many burglaries are committed to fund alcohol/tobacco? To say we can better educate and control its use is to display the optimism only a snowball in hell would display or to say that it is so prevalent we may as well legalise ... well, we may as well legalise stupid members of Parliament. P. J. Shamy June 17, 2000 - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake