Pubdate: Mon, 16 Sep 2002 Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON) Copyright: 2002 The Ottawa Citizen Contact: http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1656/a04.html Author: Neil MacEachern Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) LEGALIZING MARIJUANA PROMOTES SAFE RECREATIONAL USE, NOT DRUG ABUSE Re: Senators on marijuana, Sept. 5. For someone to conclude outright that marijuana is bad is not only outdated, but wrong. No drug is without its consequences. But marijuana's negative ramifications are dwarfed in comparison to those of nicotine and alcohol. The largest problem with marijuana is not the actual drug, but society's attempts to drive it underground. The social costs of cannabis are found in our continued desire to put all its users behind bars. The Senate desires to put an end to this through legalization as well as a re-examination of the entire way we look at drug use. Drug abuse is the problem. Legalizing marijuana is the best way to allow safe recreational use through legal procurement, and minimize abuse. Drug use will not go away, nor must it. It is only abuse that we must work to eliminate, and surprisingly, the Senate seems to have hit the nail right on the head. Neil MacEachern, Ottawa - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl