Pubdate: Thu, 08 Nov 2012
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/theprovince/letters.html
Website: http://www.theprovince.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476

CANADA'S BEING LEFT BEHIND IN POT REFORM

The legalization of marijuana by voters in Washington state and
Colorado during Tuesday night referendums is further evidence that
Canada's drug laws are badly out dated and in need of reform.

The decision by voters in those states to legalize recreational pot -
and the extension of medical-marijuana rights in other parts of the
U.S. in plebiscites - follows a chorus of calls by prominent leaders
on both sides of the border that the war on drugs has been a gigantic
failure, particularly when it comes to marijuana.

Former and sitting politicians, law-enforcement officers and members
of the medical community now believe that the criminalization of pot
does far more harm than good, most critically by putting the cannabis
trade into the hands of violent criminals. Many people legitimately
ask government how it can justify policies of prohibition that result
in blood flowing in our streets over a relatively harmless drug that
is used routinely by upstanding citizens from all walks of life.

Those who still oppose legalization now face a further issue: if pot
is legal in the U.S., Canada will lose millions in potential tax
revenue while retaining high-policing costs if Ottawa doesn't move
with the times and also legalize the drug.

Let's not be dopes.
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MAP posted-by: Matt