Pubdate: Sun, 13 Nov 2016 Source: Lethbridge Herald (CN AB) Copyright: 2016 The Lethbridge Herald Contact: http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/239 Author: Ken Oler Page: A6 WHERE'S THE 'RECREATION' IN RECREATIONAL POT SMOKING? Let's consider the "recreation" achieved from smoking pot and having it available like tobacco and liquor to the adults and teens of any ages. Laws have certainly not prevented a significant number of teens from getting to both of these hallucinatory, disabling and addictive substances. Obviously it is the gateway to heavier deadly illegal drugs. They use it because they want a "high" and then get addicted. Legalization will not choke off organized crime. They function well enough now with our weak laws and enforcement. The drug dealers are jumping in their shoes for this legalization proposal. Their business will increase greatly and they will carry on the same as now. Most of that proposed billion dollars in tax revenue will be go to rehabilitation for the many more addicted marijuana and heavy drug users and increased enforcement costs of impaired and addiction crimes that will result. Money can't cover the heartbreak and suffering of the other victims - parents of children who tried the pot and then moved on to the heavier drugs and burned their brains. We all know friends and family who are experiencing this. Addiction, brain damage and criminal actions to support the "recreation" habit. Also include the broken marriages and children affected by divorce. Trudeau says, "It was always about public health, public safety." He is right, but not in the direction he is trying to sell us on. Fatal auto crashes from marijuana intoxication in Washington state "more than doubled between 2013 and 2014." "One in six drivers involved in a fatal crash had marijuana in their bloodstream." It was legalized there in 2012. Government and other interested groups are downplaying the negative effects of this change of laws. Why? Hoping to get votes or enjoying the "recreation"? Maybe tax revenues and commercial industry? They don't seem to have stifled local illegal cultivation of crops here in Canada yet and there is still a great import business occurring. Of course they prompt advantages, leaving out the real negative results. What is the "recreation"? Hallucination/intoxication, impaired actions, driving and other, addiction and often moving on to other heavy drugs and the life-wrecking results to user and loved ones. Too many adults and children are so negatively impacted by drugs and other addictions today, we don't need more. Ken Oler Lethbridge - --- MAP posted-by: Matt