Pubdate: Sat, 18 Feb 2012
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Times Colonist
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/letters.html
Website: http://www.timescolonist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Barry Gaetz

DON'T LEGALIZE MARIJUANA

Some former attorneys general have argued we should legalize 
marijuana, citing the usual arguments for doing so.

Perhaps before we do this, would it not be useful to see if there are 
any other jurisdictions in the world that have legalized its general 
use, and if so, to determine whether their experiences have been 
positive or not?

As far as I know, there is no country in the world where marijuana 
use is legally permissible without restrictions. The Netherlands, 
Belgium, the Czech Republic, Israel and 16 American states allow 
prescribed medicinal use of grass - but so also does Canada already. 
Even the ultra-liberal Netherlands has recently brought in more 
restrictions on the use of marijuana because of the higher 
concentrations of THC and other deleterious substances that have been 
found in it. The Netherlands is also reaping the disadvantages of 
what is called "drug tourism" and the rather unsavoury types who seem 
to indulge in that form of recreation.

The argument that legalizing drugs like marijuana will reduce the 
activities of gangs is not convincing. Putting an end to Prohibition 
did not see the elimination of organized crime in America - the 
criminal element just found other illegal activities to occupy its 
pursuits for illgotten gain.

The arguments against legalization of marijuana use remain 
convincing: It is addictive and often is a "gateway drug" that leads 
to the use of more lethal narcotics, and its highly touted medical 
benefits still remain questionable.

Barry Gaetz

Victoria
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