Pubdate: Mon, 17 Jun 2002
Source: Standard, The (St. Catharines, CN ON)
Copyright: 2002, The Standard
Contact:  http://www.scstandard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/676
Author: Sue Nadon
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1102/a10.html

IN NO WAY SHOULD WE LEGALIZE MARIJUANA

Regarding the letter about legalizing marijuana by Wayne Phillips (The 
Standard June 14):

A crook is a crook! If it's not underground drugs, then it would be 
something else. We need to protect the world's children from greedy 
marijuana growers. If someone chooses to break the law by growing or 
smoking the stuff, that's one thing. But we cannot have it sold to children.

The only way to combat this is to stop selling altogether. You can't 
guarantee that the children would not be affected by drugs. Why would 
anybody want to pay more taxes, because that's what would happen if grass 
was legal.

People could show up for work after smoking marijuana -- the doctor who 
just performed that operation on your loved one, the teachers teaching our 
children, and so forth.

We would have to have mandatory drug-testing and every level. Don't you 
think that would cost more than just a few dollars?

The government would constantly be having to fight legal battles about this 
against people who think that their rights are being violated because 
marijuana is legal. It may stop some illegal activity, but in the long run 
it would end up costing more.

How are you to know if that cashier at the store is really laughing at your 
joke or is just stoned?

New laws would have to put in place so people would refrain from smoking on 
the job.

It's not like you can smell it on their breath, like alcohol. And tobacco 
doesn't alter your thought process like drugs. Legalize marijuana? As if!

Sue Nadon

Cushman Road, St. Catharines
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