Pubdate: Fri, 06 Sep 2002 Source: Toronto Star (CN ON) Copyright: 2002 The Toronto Star Contact: http://www.thestar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456 Author: Larry Duprey Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) DRUG WAR WILL ONLY HEAT UP Re Make pot legal: Senate panel, Sept. 5. The Canadian Senate, our chamber of sober second thought, has spoken. A bipartisan committee has confirmed what thousands of Canadian cannabis supporters have maintained for decades: Cannabis is not the problem that many had believed. This, of course, is not the end of the long battle, only the beginning of the end. The American government will again apply enormous pressure on our politicians to continue their failed war on drugs. The U.S. will make veiled threats to our economy, to our border security and, in fact, to our sovereignty. Canadians and their government will finally have an opportunity to resist this overt meddling and make decisions that are in the best interest of our country. Ironically, cannabis will give us a chance to separate ourselves from a violent, drug-phobic, gun-toting American culture. Larry Duprey, Toronto - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager