Pubdate: Sun, 08 Sep 2002
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2002 The Province
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Authors: Katherine Happell, Ryan Harmer, Brad Dietrich, Larry Klenman

SENATE COMMITTEE'S REPORT ON LEGALIZING MARIJUANA

It's foolish to legalize it for people who are 16. They can't drink until 
they are 19. They can't vote and they can't even drive. Why would they be 
allowed to use a mildly mind-altering drug? Also, there are some people 
like myself who are allergic to marijuana. If people are on the street 
smoking it, I'll spend most of my life in the hospital. I just wondered if 
the health of people is a consideration as much as it is when it comes to 
smoking cigarettes.

Katherine Happell, Port Coquitlam

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Gateway drug? If so, it's not the first gate.

When I was a teenager (10 years ago), the kids who smoked pot were 
generally kids who smoked tobacco and drank already.

That isn't to say that anyone who has a cigarette will eventually move on 
to a joint.

However, decriminalizing pot will take away the stigma of committing a 
criminal offence.

Although I don't believe any drug "use" should be deemed a criminal 
activity, I do believe decriminalizing marijuana will lessen the 
association others may find between it and harder, dangerous drugs such as 
cocaine and heroine.

This last point is especially true for future generations who will only 
have heard about the prohibition of marijuana.

Ryan Harmer, Langley

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Are you jokers reporting public opinion or trying to form it? You claim, 
"While tokers may be rejoicing, readers feel Senate went too far with pot 
report." Yet, your own online readers' poll shows that readers who support 
the Senate report out-number those who don't by roughly 25 per cent. What's 
with that?

Brad Dietrich, Port Alberni

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am pleased the Senate has done such a good job.

Too bad that the self-serving rhetoric of the police association is 
included in the news-media coverage. Ever wonder why no references in 
support are ever included?

It's no coincidence the resulting, continued funding goes straight into 
police pockets. Talk about the tail wagging the dog.

I resent that the jobs of a few police ride on the backs of thousands of 
Canadian citizens branded as criminals. That ought to be a crime.

Larry Klenman, Coquitlam
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