Pubdate: Tue, 06 Nov 2001
Source: Kamloops Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2001 Kamloops Daily News
Contact:  http://www.southam.com/kamloopsdailynews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/679
Author: Susan Duncan

LEGAL POT WOULD CURE AILING FOREST

There is a fast way to solve British Columbia's economic woes and put the 
United States in its place over the softwood lumber issue. Legalize marijuana.

Kamloops MP Betty Hinton supports the decriminalization of marijuana and 
quite rightly points out that it doesn't make sense to burden someone with 
a criminal record for a minor drug offence.

Canadian Alliance MP Keith Martin who is sponsoring a private member's bill 
to decriminalize marijuana notes that "for far too long we have wasted 
valuable time and resources of law enforcement agencies and courts on a 
failed policy of minor drug enforcement."

Politicians are reluctant to take the issue one step further to 
legalization because they fear the public outcry. However, opinion polls 
indicate that the public is divided equally on the question.

Perhaps if more people realized what a huge industry marijuana production 
is already, they might be more open to a common sense solution. Marijuana 
is already being produced in great quantities with none of the direct 
profits benefiting the taxpayers. The illegal operators make the money. The 
taxpayers pay for law enforcement costs.

Government-controlled marijuana sales would rapidly replace the money lost 
in B.C. from the lumber industry, caused by prohibitive tariffs imposed by 
the U.S. Commerce Department.

But it is the potential of a thriving hemp industry that would give the 
agricultural market in B.C. and Canada a massive boost. The hemp plant, 
which marijuana comes from, also produces fibres for strong fabrics, 
building materials and cardboard. That is only a few uses for the rapidly 
renewable resource.

The United States, which is strongly opposed to the legalization of 
marijuana, would be unhappy. However, it's unreasonable for that country to 
expect British Columbians to watch its major resource disintegrate under 
hefty tariffs and not look around for other ways to stimulate the economy.

There is the concern of sending a message to youths that mind-altering 
substances are condoned, but government-controlled marijuana would be much 
safer than the drugs that are currently available. Education and health 
programs would also have to be a factor weighed in to any decisions 
associated with the legalization of marijuana.

It's a controversial proposal for any government to contemplate, but that 
doesn?t mean it shouldn't be thrown out for public debate and consideration.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart