Pubdate: Tue, 10 Sep 2002
Source: Claresholm Local Press (CN AB)
Copyright: 2002 Claresholm Local Press
Contact:  http://claresholmpress.awna.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2382

CANADIAN SENATORS MUST HAVE BEEN SMOKING SOMETHING

Canada's senators have come  up with an interesting idea. Let's legalize 
marijuana.

Let's see if we can save $300 million to $500 million per year enforcing 
laws against this drug.

Let's take that money and spend it on drug abuse programs (and admit that 
marijuana is addictive).

Let's spend that money on preventative health programs (encouraging people 
not to start smoking the legalized drug).

Let's spend that money on border surveillance (because it's not legal in 
the United States)

And because we've just thrown this idea out there and already spent all the 
money we've saved, let's talk about where else we'll have to spend money.

How about the increased costs of insurance and health care. There will be 
people who will "dope and drive". How will police test someone to see if he 
or she has been smoking a joint before driving? And what will the "legal 
limit" for marijuana smoking be? One? Two? Does it depend on your gender, 
height, weight and whether you had a meal with your joint?

What about restaurants and bars? Won't they all have no choice but to 
become no smoking or will there be three sections instead of two?

There has been discussion about the decriminalization of marijuana for 
awhile, but that is different than legalization.

Pushing to legalize pot before offering any solutions to these questions 
(and others) is crazy.

Pushing to legalize a drug, which is just as addictive as cigarettes and 
alcohol is scary.

Why aren't we talking about stiffer penalties for marijuana possession?

Senators need to slow down and take another look at their idea, and the 
Canadian public need to respond to outrageous ideas thought up by these people.

Let your member of parliament, Grant Hill, know your opinion on the 
legalization of marijuana before it's too late. His mailing address is Box 
430, Okotoks, Alta., T0L 1T0. You can also write to David Hancock, the 
provincial minister of justice, at 208 Legislature Building, 10800 97th 
Ave., Edmonton, Alta., T5K 2B6.

~RHS
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MAP posted-by: Beth