Pubdate: Fri, 10 Sep 2004 Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC) Copyright: 2004 The Vancouver Sun Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477 Author: Sharon Bishop Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04.n1277.a08.html SPACED-OUT AND SEEDY WHAT'S HAPPENING TO VANCOUVER? There's a big difference between strung-out street people and/or panhandlers downtown and some folks inside a pot cafe. It is a little seedy downtown. I feel sorry for the tourists who book their accommodation there and have to walk around in that environment. But I reject attempts to connect pot smoking and "down and outers" on our urban streets. Crystal meth, crack, mental illness and alcoholism all combine to create the atmosphere tourists and some of us locals find intimidating. Whenever pot smoking is lumped in with hard drug use, it creates a propaganda that eager abolitionists gobble up. Sharon Bishop Vancouver - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin