Pubdate: Sat, 29 Oct 2016 Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB) Copyright: 2016 The Edmonton Journal Website: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134 Author: Allan Shute Page: A14 WHAT THE BIG HURRY TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA? Re. "How many really want legal pot?," Brian Hutchinson, Oct. 27 What's with the big rush to legalize cannabis? Doesn't the health-care system already spend billions to cover the costs of smoking-related illnesses that could've been avoided if people didn't smoke in the first place? Marijuana, medical or otherwise, has just as many tars, toxins and carcinogens as tobacco, if not more. Don't we spend tens of millions to warn people smoking is bad for them? Oh well, tax revenues are healthy. And don't we spend time and money on no-smoking bans in public places? While it might mean second-hand smoke every time we walk down the street, the 'potential' upside is $22.6 billion a year. And how about the untold costs of traffic deaths, injuries, court costs, legal fees and imprisonments? Again, jobs, jobs, jobs. As a late-1960s survivor of the harmless giggle, I can attest getting weasly-eyed didn't sharpen my driving or my social skills. As for those types tempted to toke and booze, Underground Comix hero Freewheelin' Franklin Freek once advised: "Smoking grass and drinking beer is like pissing into the wind." Allan Shute, Edmonton - --- MAP posted-by: Matt