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.

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Salomon Rayek is a Kelowna resident and former executive editor of the 
Jewish Tribune. Email:  ---
MAP posted-by: Matt