Pubdate: Tue, 20 Dec 2016
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2016 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/send_a_letter
Website: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502
Author: John Alexander
Page: A10

GOING TO POT

For the past few days I have been listening to, and reading about the
80 recommendations made by the marijuana legalization task force,
headed up by Anne McMillan, a former Liberal justice minister.

Some of the recommendations include: an age for purchase restriction
of not less than 18 (not 21 as recommended by the Canadian Medical
Association); separate storefronts for tobacco, alcohol and pot
because, according to the committee, one addiction leads to another;
two separate bureaucracies for medical and recreational use; and money
is to be earmarked to fight addiction, underage use and for
harm-reduction strategies.

The NDP is calling for immediate legalization of pot because thousands
of youths will be charged before full legalization comes about and
they will carry a lifetime criminal record. (But if you don't use it,
there is no record to worry about, which is pretty
straightforward).

Marijuana is a drug. We can't even test to see whether you are too
stoned to drive safely. This mad rush to legalize the drug is crazy.
Are there not more serious problems in this country to worry about?

John Alexander

Winnipeg
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt