Pubdate: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON) Copyright: 2014 Postmedia Network Inc. Contact: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/letters.html Website: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326 Author: Andree Champagne Page: D9 ANTI-MARIJUANA ADS ARE POLITICAL FODDER Re: Health Canada asks doctors to back anti-marijuana ads, Aug. 14. In Thursday's Citizen, we learned that Health Canada is ready to spend $5 million of taxpayers' money for a campaign against marijuana. Although Health Canada says that this is not political, how can we believe this when Conservative representatives use every excuse they get to attack Justin Trudeau's stance on marijuana. It would be naive to think that this ad campaign against marijuana is not ordered by the Conservatives. It is also interesting that three of Canada's professional medical organizations do not believe that this is a political campaign. Really? Are these organizations' members aware of this stand? I find it disturbing that taxpayers' money is used in this political manner. I also find it somewhat hypocritical given that the same Conservative government is busy providing "official permits" to businesses that wish to grow marijuana and sell it to Canadians. Andree Champagne, Ottawa - --- MAP posted-by: Matt