Pubdate: Mon, 28 Feb 2005 Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2005 Canoe Limited Partnership Contact: http://www.ottawasun.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329 Author: Marc Chretien Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor, headline by newshawk. LEGALIZING AN "ILLEGAL" DRUG RE "LEGALIZING pot in Grit party plans? (Feb. 22): I have read the Letters to the Editor section for many years and found interesting views. I have also read the craziest stories in the Ottawa Sun, however this story is the craziest I have ever read. Delegates to the Liberal Party are meeting March 5 and 6 plan a bill to legalize marijuana. They stated that if they tax the sales of marijuana they might generate a revenue of about $3 billion each year. That could be a good boost to the Canadian economy. However, they also stated that they plan on using some of the taxed revenue to educate youth against drug use, and also to help individuals who are adversely affected by the use of said drug. Aren't they contradicting the whole principle? I mean think about it. By legalizing an "illegal" drug, you are promoting its use only to use that revenue and educate people against its use. Where's the logic in that? It's fine to legalize marijuana; it will reduce the crime rate in its own department. I applaud it for that. What I don't approve of, is to teach kids not to use pot by promoting its use. Something to think about. Marc Chretien (Not that they seem terribly discouraged now ...) - --- MAP posted-by: Beth