Pubdate: Sun, 22 Dec 2002
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2002, Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.fyiottawa.com/ottsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author: Jean-Pierre Allard
Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor; headline by newshawk
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

SERIOUS THINKING

I   agree   with   decriminalizing  marijuana's  use  and  possession, 
especially  for  purely  medicinal  purposes  or for recreational use, 
considering  that  a  large proportion of Canada's citizens, including some 
very notorious people, seemingly indulge in the weed.

But  please, let's think this one out before allowing anyone to use it 
liberally,  without  any  fear  of  damaging  effects,  especially the 
nation's  youth,  who  are,  lest  we  have forgotten, the builders of 
tomorrow's  society.  Aren't  youngsters having enough problems facing 
tough  career  choices,  struggling at school or simply trying to cope 
within  a  dysfunctional  family, without further exacerbating what is 
already a deteriorating situation?

And  has  anyone  thought  as  to  how  effectively we will be able to 
control its consumption when this activity, which can take less than a 
minute  at  times,  can  be virtually practised any time of day or any 
place, and inconspicuously at that?

And  what  about  increased  health care costs? There is ample medical 
evidence  that  women on birth control pills who also smoke cigarettes 
will  see  their  risk of suffering a stroke increase significantly if 
marijuana  is  added  to the mix. Yet, we seem to ignore that. And how 
many  more  people  will eventually become obese from coming down with 
those  late-night,  acute  cases  of  "the munchies" after toking, and 
thereby increase their risks for life-threatening heart disease?

Yet another issue in this boiling pot is the equally severe dangers of 
smoking  dope  and  driving.  But  thanks  to  government  information 
campaigns that naively continue to perpetuate the myth of drinking and 
driving,   many  people  still  do  not  realize  that  a  significant 
percentage of road and water accidents can be attributed to drugs also and 
not just alcohol.

Seems  to me that we have some more serious thinking to do before even 
contemplating  its decriminalization. All we need is a joint effort to get 
it right this time.

Jean-Pierre Allard

(So to speak -- but honestly, the issue's been debate enough)
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager