Pubdate: Wed, 15 Dec 2004
Source: Valley Echo, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2004 The Valley Echo
Contact:  http://www.invermerevalleyecho.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2140
Author: Chuck Beyer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

MP IS MISTAKEN

Jim Abbott, MP Kootenay-Columbia is mistaken - one ounce of marijuana is a 
very small amount. It is between a two-week and a month's supply for the 
average marijuana smoker. You would not begrudge an alcohol or tobacco user 
for having a month's supply. Many drinkers like to have a wide variety of 
alcohol to choose from. Marijuana users are no different. There are a wide 
variety of different strains around and we prefer different blends on 
different occasions.

I personally buy my marijuana in increments of an ounce. If threshold for 
decriminalization is set at a quarter of an ounce this just means that my 
dealer will have to break the laws four times a month instead of once - or 
more than likely I will ignore the law just as I do now, and as I have done 
for 30 years.

Speaking of which, at one ounce a month at $200 for 30 years -that is 
$75,000 dollars that could have gone into general revenue. And I am only 
one of three million Canadian marijuana smokers. If you are wondering how 
to fund an ailing health care system I would suggest that you ignore MP Jim 
Abbott's reefer madness rantings and take the advice of the Canadian Senate 
to transfer the power to regulate and tax marijuana to the provinces as 
they do the alcohol industry.

According to latest polls the majority of Canadians would agree.

Chuck Beyer

Port Alberni 
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