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