Pubdate: Sun, 28 Nov 2004
Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)
Copyright: 2004 The Ottawa Citizen
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326
Author: Russell Barth
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04.n1653.a01.html

BUSINESS LOBBY SELECTIVELY RESISTS CANNABIS

Re: Big-business lobby urges delay in easing marijuana laws, Nov. 22.

Although it is not recommended that any one should be "impaired" while
at work, it seems arbitrary and discriminatory for this business lobby
to single out cannabis or its decriminalization as a potential
work-slowing factor. Alcohol, illness and legal medications are much
bigger factors than all illegal drugs combined.

There is also no information to suggest that loosening cannabis laws
will significantly increase cannabis use. History has shown that full
legalization and regulation of alcohol actually reduced the dangers at
home and at work, and the same would be true with cannabis.

This warning from the Canadian Council of Chief Executives is more
propaganda to put the fear into the population about how the sky will
fall if we adjust the marijuana prohibition even a little. I am sure
that if we were to look back to news items from the 1920s and 1930s,
we'd find exactly the same sorts of articles from doomsayers about
repealing alcohol prohibition.

Prohibition is not working. It never has, and never will. After 80
years, if it were going to work, it would have worked by now.

Russell Barth,

Ottawa
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin