Pubdate: Mon, 26 Aug 2013
Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)
Copyright: 2013 The Ottawa Citizen
Contact: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326
Author: Larry Comeau

SENDS THE WRONG MESSAGE

Scant weeks ago, prime minister wannabe Justin Trudeau said if he 
attains that job he will legalize and regulate marijuana to keep it 
from our youth.

This seems a faulty rationale as we already know that approach has 
failed miserably protecting them from tobacco or alcohol.

His admission now that he had used pot since becoming an MP not only 
shows his total disrespect for Canada's drug laws, but does not send 
the correct message to those very youth he wants to protect from this 
narcotic. It also raises the question about the real reason for his 
push for legalization. As a high profile role model MP and potential 
PM he may unwittingly be encouraging our young to use marijuana.

Having enforced Canada's drug laws for many years, I feel any 
decision to legalize marijuana should only be done after a thorough 
debate of the pros and cons. We seem to keep hearing how harmless 
this narcotic is without receiving the other side of this. Many 
recent studies point out that currently hydroponically produced pot 
is 80 per cent more potent than in my days in enforcement. This makes 
this narcotic potentially more addictive.

Other studies have shown marijuana use, especially among our youth, 
can lead to psychosis and other mental issues. The last thing our 
healthcare system are needs is even more challenging heal issues.

It would be nice if Trudeau would give a consistent message and think 
of what repercussions his views have on Canadians.

Larry Comeau, Ottawa, A retired RCMP superintendent
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom