Pubdate: Thu, 19 Jul 2001 Source: Globe and Mail (Canada) Copyright: 2001, The Globe and Mail Company Contact: http://www.globeandmail.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168 Page: A16 Author: Max Christie Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) DOOBIE WARNING Toronto -- While I had to laugh at most of Paul Sullivan's column on the secret to B.C.'s economic success (The Dopesters Of La-La Land -- July 17), I did find the reference to the "criminal infrastructure" that runs and benefits most from the marijuana market chilling. Can anyone say Al Capone? The argument is so worn that it's embarrassing to drag it out in public again. Let's outlaw tobacco. Let's bring back prohibition. Or, rather, let's keep our heads well and truly in the sand in the belief that by calling two addictive drugs permissible and manageable, we have the problem licked. Let's ensure a fair place in society for the criminals who run the drug trade. If the market for pot is so substantial, doubtless the evidence of its harm to the users is equally weighty. I'm looking forward to the enlightened age when packages of state-controlled (and taxed, to be sure) doobies come with the graphic warning: "Continuous use of marijuana can make you silly." - --- MAP posted-by: GD