Pubdate: Wed, 30 May 2007 Source: Winnipeg Sun (CN MB) Copyright: 2007 Canoe Limited Partnership Contact: http://www.winnipegsun.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/503 Author: Russell Barth Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) HEALTH-CARE SHOULD GO GREEN Re: Drug costs eroding medicare, May 28. If we were truly free in Canada, we could all grow a little cannabis. Then we wouldn't need so many pills and syrups, we wouldn't need to see doctors as often, and our health-care system would be under far less strain. Beyond that, legalizing, regulating, and taxing a commercial cannabis market would save us about a $1-1.5 billion dollars every year, and generate an estimated $3 billion in tax revenue. That could go a long way to finance our struggling health-care system, but Layton would never have the guts to say that publicly, because he is basically a Grit with an orange tie. Russell Barth Ottawa (All our problems would go up in smoke?) - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman