Pubdate: Mon, 19 Dec 2016 Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2016 Canoe Limited Partnership Contact: http://www.torontosun.com/letter-to-editor Website: http://torontosun.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457 Author: Guy Bowie Page: 16 Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor. LEGAL POT BLUES Re "Task force recommends legalizing mail order, storefront pot sales" (Canadian Press, Dec. 13): The Liberals have consistently stated two guiding principles to justify their rush toward legalization of marijuana. The first was to protect young people and the second was to push organized crime out of the market. Unfortunately, these recommendations will do neither. In fact, as it applies to protecting our youth, these recommendations actually expose them to more risk. They have ignored the Canadian Medical Association recommendation of 25 years of age, they ignored the CMA's watered-down minimum of 21, and have decided on 18. So much for evidence-based decision making by this Liberal government. Furthermore, by legalizing marijuana, they have legitimized it. Young people will now view marijuana as a benign substance denied to them only due to their age. They will certainly find ways to circumvent this law and will do so believing that it is of no harm. In regards to pushing! organized crime out of the market, not even close. The government is proposing regulations that will ensure that organized crime continues to be the big winner in all of this. Few individuals will be buying the high-priced, highly taxed, THC-reduced version of marijuana that the government is proposing. Most will continue to purchase from their friendly neighbourhood dealer. This will probably end up being one of the biggest boondoggles in our history and will cost the provinces and municipalities a fortune in bureaucratic bungling. Guy Bowie Toronto - ------------------------------------------- (Trudeau promised it. Now we'll see if he's up to delivering a workable system for legalized pot) - --- MAP posted-by: Matt