Pubdate: Wed, 28 Nov 2012 Source: Daily Courier, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2012 The Okanagan Valley Group of Newspapers Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/5NyOACet Website: http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/531 Author: Salomon Rayek POT LEGALIZATION A BAD MESSAGE TO SEND TO KIDS Washington and Colorado have voted in favour of the legalization of marijuana. After this happened, B.C. marijuana advocates did not wait a minute to start campaigning for pot legalization. The biggest deterrent the federal government had to prevent changing the law is gone: that legalization, even decriminalization, would create unbearable tensions with our biggest economic partner and neighbour in the south. Pot activists argue that marijuana is not dangerous to our health, that legalization would bring millions of dollars in tax revenue, and that it will decrease crime. You do not have to be a doctor, genius, expert or establish a committee to predict the ramifications of pot use. Just observe people's behaviour under its influence. Marijuana is a dangerous drug that destroys the reasoning and logical capabilities of the brain, kills motivation and distorts reality. Also, it has a number of other well-documented health effects, such as heart and lung damage. It increases youths' risks of brain chemistry disorders and psychological diseases, such as psychosis, and damages brain cells, causing irreparable harm. The other arguments used by advocates are equally flawed. Crime rates will not drop for the simple reason that those who sell marijuana do it not because they are passionate believers in their product, but due to easy profits. Do you think they will be lining up the next day after the law has changed to get business licences for legitimate marijuana stores? If the criminal element is taken out of marijuana, criminals will turn to more dangerous drugs or activities to make their illegal profits. Our kids will begin buying crystal meth or cocaine instead of pot. Legalization will not solve the social conditions that move people to work in illegal industries. In effect, we will open a Pandora's box -A just as marijuana is known as the "gateway" drug to further drug use. First, marijuana, then cocaine, then crystal meth or heroin: once society gives up its moral and principled position, the gates to argue for further drug legalization will be wide open. Do not forget that most hard drug users started with marijuana. And for those who argue about the supposed economic benefits to B.C. that such a change would bring, I ask: How much are my and my friends' kids lives worth? Ironically, extreme left, pro-marijuana advocates are viciously against a legitimate project, which has potentially huge economic and social benefits for B.C. The Northern Gateway pipeline will create millions of dollars in taxable income, thousands of jobs and provide long-term economic growth to the province. However, the opponents argue it will hurt the physical health of our land. No matter human health and prosperity. Atlantic Canadians have already confirmed they would support the pipeline through their regions. Unfortunately for them, the gateway to Asian markets is from B.C. We should seize this opportunity to offset some of the $15-billion trade deficit we have with China. So, here we are in a society where we use economic and technical arguments to support the legalization of a harmful drug, whose main users, by the way, are children. At the same time, we reject a well-regulated, legal and necessary project that will create real wealth, a solid future and well being for our children and grandchildren. What does this mean about the kind of society we live in? It seems that we have lost our moral compass. We always thought our American cousins were the ones who would keep us from embarking on dangerous and self-destructive social experiments. Now, it is up to us to act on principle instead of expediency. We have the wheel in our hands; let's not crash at our first opportunity. - ---------------------- Salomon Rayek is a Kelowna resident and former executive editor of the Jewish Tribune. Email: --- MAP posted-by: Matt