Pubdate: Mon, 20 Feb 2012 Source: Alberni Valley Times (CN BC) Copyright: 2012 Alberni Valley Times Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouverisland/albernivalleytimes/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4043 Page: 9 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 ill-gotten 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 - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart