Pubdate: Wed, 14 Nov 2012
Source: Northern View, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 The Northern View
Contact:  http://www.thenorthernview.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4366
Author: Shaun Thomas

LEGALIZING MARIJUANA JUST MAKES SENSE

Marijuana cigarettes should be available for purchase at every corner 
store, gas station, grocery store and pharmacy in the province.

Following the returns from the US election last week, I had a bit of 
a keen eye on Initiative 502 in Washington State which would legalize 
the sale of marijuana.

When it passed, my first thought was, "finally, somebody got it right".

The Initiative allows adults to carry one ounce of useable marijuana 
and 16-ounces of marijuana-infused product; outlines regulations for 
marijuana growth and sales; creates a 25 per cent tax on the sale of 
marijuana; and charges a $250 initial fee with a $1,000 annual renewal fee.

Of that 25 per cent tax, 55 per cent is set aside for health care, 25 
per cent is set aside for drug abuse treatment and medication, one 
per cent goes to marijuana-related research at the University of 
Washington and the remaining 19 per cent goes into general revenue.

At a time when hospitals are crying out for more money for equipment 
and staffing; when school boards are crying out for more money for 
education; and when cities are crying out for more money for 
infrastructure, this to me seems like the best possible solution.

Right now the government is spending millions of dollars and 
countless resources on a war on drugs that was lost at least a decade 
ago, if not sooner.

Pot prohibition has failed - ask one teen to bring you a beer and 
another to bring you a joint and I guarantee the kid will be back 
with the weed before the other even gets started.

Instead of dishing out all this money in a failed attempt to bring 
these people to justice, why not make money off of something people 
are going to do anyway?

At least this way not only are the people of B.C. benefitting, but 
the safety of the people doing it and the quality of the product can 
be guaranteed.

I don't smoke marijuana or take drugs, I never have and likely never 
will, but I know people who have bought marijuana laced with meth and 
cocaine in an attempt to get people hooked on the harder, more costly drugs.

How is that safe?

And if alcohol - the cause of countless vehicle accidents and bar 
fights - and cigarettes - the cause of countless cancer-related 
illnesses and deaths - are legal and contributing to our economy then 
it makes absolutely zero sense to keep marijuana outlawed.

It's time for society and government to wake up.

The status quo has failed and money is being put into a losing effort 
at the expense of our health and our children. Legalizing marijuana 
only makes sense.

I don't get how people can't see that.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom