Pubdate: Wed, 08 Feb 2012
Source: Peninsula News Review (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Black Press
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/x9fPSyOK
Website: http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_south/peninsulanewsreview/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1373
Author: Wayne Phillips
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n084/a04.html

ALCOHOL COULD HAVE HARSHER SOCIETAL EFFECTS THAN MARIJUANA

Re: Neighbours key to safety (Red Coat Corner, Jan. 27)

How serious can threats of marijuana grow ops actually be to 
communities, or youth for that matter, when the majority of grow ops 
could literally be forced to shut down by eliminating marijuana 
prohibition and regulating it like alcohol?

Yet the police prefer to continue to centre the conversation around 
the evils of marijuana and talk of the potential for an increase in 
criminal activity and a greater chance of fire, explosions and 
violence. The harms of alcohol are far greater than those attributed 
to marijuana.

The impact of drugs and organized crime on our communities are in 
direct correlation to the laws which criminalize drugs and foster the 
very opportunities for organized crime to permeate communities that 
enforcement claims to want to shut down.

Why do police encourage the continuation of costly failed legislative 
actions and the efforts of Crime Stoppers over intelligent policy 
change that would affect meaningful results in cost effective ways?

The International Centre for Science in Drug Policy's latest report 
demonstrates the clear failure of U.S. cannabis prohibition. It 
supports calls for evidence-based models to legalize and regulate the 
use of cannabis.

The report has already received the support and endorsement of the 
British Medical Journal, one of the world's most influential medical 
journals which has published a commentary in support of the report's 
findings, and over 60 of the ICSDP's scientific network members from 
more than 30 countries.

Other organizations also concur.

Wayne Phillips

Hamilton, Ont.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom