Pubdate: Sat, 27 Jul 2013
Source: Kamloops Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Kamloops Daily News
Contact:  http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/679
Robert Sharpe
Page: 19
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n355/a01.html

PROHIBITION SPROUTS UNSAFE GROW-OPS

Regarding Mayor Peter Milobar's July 22 column, hazardous marijuana
grow operations are a direct result of marijuana prohibition.

IT'S BECAUSE marijuana is illegal that unsafe, underground grow-ops
emerge, says writer Robert Sharpe.

Legitimate farmers do not steal electricity to grow produce in the
basements of rented homes. If legal, growing marijuana would be less
profitable then farming tomatoes.

As it stands, the drug war distorts market forces such that big money
grows on little trees. Canadian policymakers should ignore the reefer
madness hysteria of the U.S. government and instead to look their own
Senate for guidance.

In the words of Senator Pierre Claude Nolin, "Scientific evidence
overwhelmingly indicates that cannabis is substantially less harmful
than alcohol and should be treated not as a criminal issue but as a
social and public health issue."

Senator Nolin's quote can be verified at:

http://www.parl.gc.ca/37/1/parlbus/commbus/senate/com-e/ille-e/press-e/04sep02-e.htm

Robert Sharpe, Common Sense for Drug Policy Washington, DC
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt