Russell Barth 1/1/1997 - 31/12/2024
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151 CN BC: LTE: Legalization Not The AnswerFri, 09 Apr 2010
Source:Langley Advance (CN BC) Author:Anderson, Bryanna Area:British Columbia Lines:67 Added:04/09/2010

Dear Editor,

Russell Barth's argument to legalize and regulate drugs [Drugs: Legalizing would stop gangs, March 26 Letters, www.langleyadvance.com] is one that many should find offensive. He believes that the police do not want to legalize drugs because that would result in budget cuts and layoffs.

Unlike Barth, I do not believe all police men and women are trying to trick the public into giving them money by making us believe that "crime is a bigger issue than it is." For the most part, I know the police are out there doing the best they can to protect the citizens of our cities, and accusing our brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, aunts, and uncles of perceiving crime as a threat in order to keep their jobs and acquire more money for "powers of intrusion and coercion" is insulting.

[continues 311 words]

152 CN ON: PUB LTE: SuperstitionMon, 05 Apr 2010
Source:Northumberland Today (CN ON) Author:Barth, Russell Area:Ontario Lines:25 Added:04/07/2010

Re: Port Hope opposes commercial grow op

Imagine what kind of mind-set you must have -- as a citizen, politician, or cop -- to be able to keep people from their medicine based on superstitions, scientific untruths, and archaic "beliefs".

These clowns would be only too happy if Molson or Seagram's opened a place in their town, but legal marijuana growing to help sick people alleviate symptoms "sends the wrong message to youth."

Russell Barth, Federally licensed medical marijuana user, drug reform analyst and consultant Educators for Sensible Drug Policy Nepean

[end]

153 CN BC: PUB LTE: Politicians Hypocrites When It Comes To DrugsTue, 06 Apr 2010
Source:Nanaimo News Bulletin (CN BC) Author:Barth, Russell Area:British Columbia Lines:30 Added:04/06/2010

The Conservatives preach a zero tolerance policy to drug use and plan to impose mandatory jail time for people who grow even one marijuana plant in a rented dwelling.

However, when the husband of an MP gets caught drunk driving and in possession of cocaine, he gets to plead down to "reckless driving."

One can only assume that Rahim Jaffer got some help from his friends in very high places. One law for them, another law for the "little people."

Maybe now more Canadians will realize what a bunch of brazen hypocrites these so-called "conservatives" really are.

Russell Barth

Nepean, Ont.

[end]

154 CN AB: PUB LTE: Pot Issue MisrepresentedSun, 04 Apr 2010
Source:Calgary Sun, The (CN AB) Author:Note, Russell Barth Area:Alberta Lines:27 Added:04/04/2010

Re: "Harper disappoints," (Letters, March 28).

At the end of the letter, your editorial comment was "(Most Canadians don't support legalization.)" This is categorically untrue. The most recent polls show that 53% support legalization, just under 30% don't care one way or the other, and about 20% still feel, like you, that we should continue to subsidize organized crime and people should go to jail for using flowers. The Sun repeatedly misrepresents the facts, science, and the history about drugs and prohibition, and it is a disgusting insult to the intelligence of your readers. For shame.

Russell Barth

(It's not as cut and dried as you present it, Russell.)

[end]

155 CN ON: PUB LTE: Medical Marijuana Program Is UnconstitutionalThu, 01 Apr 2010
Source:Independent, The (CN ON) Author:Barth, Russell Area:Ontario Lines:84 Added:04/01/2010

To The Editor:

Re: Northumberland residents help create nation's first medical marijuana expo (Feb. 25).

There is much about this program that the government doesn't talk about, and it has been an ongoing fiasco for almost a decade. Here are some things that Canadians need to know about the medical marijuana program at Health Canada

* The program itself has been ruled unconstitutional by at least four court rulings

- - The program is so scandalously understaffed that there is a 16-week wait for applications to be processed (whereas it only takes a few weeks to get a gun). Simple renewals take 10 weeks.

[continues 417 words]

156 CN SN: Edu: Do You Support The Troops?Thu, 01 Apr 2010
Source:Sheaf, The (CN SN Edu)          Area:Saskatchewan Lines:48 Added:04/01/2010

Dear Sheaf,

Re: Harper's Marijuana Action Plan

Imagine what kind of mindset you must have - as a citizen, politician, or cop - to be able to keep people from their medicine based on superstitions, scientific untruths and archaic "beliefs."

Many of our troops are coming home with post traumatic stress disorder. Medical marijuana has been positively indicated, and much science shows it's efficacy and safety in the treatment of PTSD.

Canadians can get medical marijuana through a licensing program at Health Canada, and veterans can even have their pot paid for by Veteran's Affairs.

[continues 141 words]

157 CN BC: PUB LTE: Legalization Would Stop GangsFri, 26 Mar 2010
Source:Langley Advance (CN BC) Author:Barth, Russell Area:British Columbia Lines:40 Added:03/29/2010

Dear Editor,

The number one best thing we could do to thwart gangs [Business asked to stymie gangs, March 19, Langley Advance] is legalize and regulate their commodities. Pot sold in coffee shops, harder drugs sold in pharmacies and clinics, and discreet brothels to get the prostitution off the streets and reduce slavery would pretty much steal all the business away from the gangs.

But cops don't want these things legalized here, because it would likely have the same effect as similar measures have had in the Netherlands, namely, a dramatic reduction in crime. And that means budget cuts and layoffs.

[continues 105 words]

158 CN AB: PUB LTE: So Prohibition Doesn't Work?Fri, 26 Mar 2010
Source:Edmonton Sun (CN AB) Author:Miner, H. Area:Alberta Lines:22 Added:03/27/2010

Re: "War on drugs a lost cause." So prohibition doesn't work? Wow! What a shocker! I think we'd better spend a few million more on another round of studies, just to be sure. Aaaand .... cue letter from Russell Barth.

H. Miner

(Can you blame him? It's a foolish waste of time and money.)

[end]

159 CN BC: PUB LTE: Target The Real CriminalsWed, 24 Mar 2010
Source:Surrey Leader (CN BC) Author:Barth, Russell Area:British Columbia Lines:45 Added:03/26/2010

Re: "How many legal pot grow-ops are in Surrey?", The Leader, March 19.

The police, fire officials, government and even now the "impartial" media are all portraying medical marijuana growers as criminals who are getting away with something evil and dangerous, when the actual fact of the matter is, it is just a bunch of sick people trying to get by. And as a medical user who is married to one, I am getting tired of this grow-opaganda.

But it seems the Gladys Kravitzes of the world cannot stop persecuting medical marijuana people, and go so far as to make broad and unfounded accusations.

[continues 103 words]

160 CN ON: Prohibition Helps Foster UntruthsTue, 23 Mar 2010
Source:Barrie Examiner (CN ON) Author:Barth, Russell Area:Ontario Lines:41 Added:03/24/2010

(Re: "Police, Rotary share vision" in the March 17 edition of the Examiner)

OPP Deputy Commissioner Chris Lewis said, in regards to marijuana that: "Most of it is exported to the U.S. and comes back ( in return ) as cocaine or guns."

True enough. But prohibition is the cause of -- not the solution to - -- this problem.

But cops will never admit that because prohibition assures that their jobs, powers, and budgets, will continue to grow.

They literally ignore all the science and history on the subject, and insist that only more prohibition can save us from the problems caused by prohibition.

[continues 61 words]

161 CN AB: PUB LTE: What Do You Think?Sun, 21 Mar 2010
Source:Edmonton Sun (CN AB) Author:Barth, Russell Area:Alberta Lines:40 Added:03/21/2010

In mid 2009, I was contacted by an Ottawa lawyer whose client was unable to get a doctor to sign his medical marijuana license forms from Health Canada. The patient was having near-constant seizures due to a brain injury, medical negligence, and pharmaceutical intolerance. He was told he had "months to live". I put the lawyer in touch with an Ottawa neurologist whom I knew had signed the Health Canada Medical Marijuana forms for other people with seizure disorders. A few months ago, the lawyer contacted me again. Now the issue was supply. The government-grown pot is unreliable and street weed was worse. The patient was unable to grow at home. So I put them in touch with a Compassion Club, who immediately supplied several grams per day to the patient for free, as many do for extreme cases. I am now told that the patient is almost seizure-free, his stress has reduced to almost zero because he doesn't fear imminent seizures and death, and he is planning, he says, to live for several more years. And Stephen Harper says that marijuana is "bad." What do you think?

Russell Barth, Ottawa

(The war on drugs stupidly wastes time and money.)

[end]

162 CN BC: PUB LTE: Lobby to Legalize Pot Rather Than Complain About The StinkThu, 18 Mar 2010
Source:Cloverdale Reporter (CN BC) Author:Barth, Russell Area:British Columbia Lines:49 Added:03/19/2010

Re: 'Grow ops stink, letter writer fumes,' March 12

Heather Fisher's letter was laughable. Lines like "Those who use marijuana use it primarily as an escape mechanism to numb feelings that they avoid dealing with." out her as a total non-user, because only someone who has never used pot would make such naive and outlandish statements about it.

As a person who uses pot several times every day to alleviate a number of medical problems, I can tell you that pot's ability to "take one away" is wildly exaggerated - usually by people who have never tried it.

[continues 89 words]

163 CN ON: PUB LTE: Tories Preach Zero Tolerance PolicyMon, 15 Mar 2010
Source:Hill Times, The (Ottawa, CN ON) Author:Barth, Russell Area:Ontario Lines:23 Added:03/16/2010

The Conservatives preach a zero tolerance policy to drug use and plan to impose mandatory jail time for people who grow even one marijuana plant in a rented dwelling, but the husband of a junior Cabinet minister who initially gets charged with drunk driving and cocaine possession and receives a $500 fine for "careless driving," seems brazenly hypocritical.

Russell Barth

Nepean, Ont.

[end]

164 CN BC: PUB LTE: Two-Tier Drug LawsFri, 12 Mar 2010
Source:Surrey Leader (CN BC) Author:Barth, Russell Area:British Columbia Lines:30 Added:03/15/2010

Re: Rahim Jaffer.

The Conservatives preach a zero-tolerance policy to drug use and plan to impose mandatory jail time for people who grow even one marijuana plant in a rented dwelling, but when the husband of an MP gets caught drunk driving and in possession of cocaine, he gets to plead down to "reckless driving."

One can only assume that Jaffer got some help from his friends in very high places. One law for them, another law for the "little people."

Maybe now more Canadians will realize what a bunch of brazen hypocrites these so-called "conservatives" really are.

Russell Barth,

Educators for Sensible Drug Policy

[end]

165 CN BC: PUB LTE: Hypocrites RuleFri, 12 Mar 2010
Source:Langley Advance (CN BC) Author:Barth, Russell Area:British Columbia Lines:29 Added:03/15/2010

Dear Editor,

The Conservatives preach a zero-tolerance policy to drug use and plan to impose mandatory jail time for people who grow even one marijuana plant in a rented dwelling, but when the husband of an MP gets caught drunk driving and in possession of cocaine, he gets to plead down to "reckless driving."

It's one law for them, another law for the little people.

Maybe now more Canadians will realize what a bunch of brazen hypocrites these so-called "conservatives" really are.

Russell Barth,

Federally Licensed Medical Marijuana User

[end]

166 Canada: PUB LTE: Medical MarijuanaThu, 11 Mar 2010
Source:National Post (Canada) Author:Barth, Russell Area:Canada Lines:27 Added:03/11/2010

The assertion that marijuana "causes" mental illness simply doesn't hold water. The math doesn't add up.

Canadians smoke the most potent pot in the world, we smoke more of it than any other country and teen usage of pot use has increased four times in the past 30 years. There should be a corresponding increase in the number of schizophrenia and psychosis cases in Canadian hospitals over that time, but the number of such cases has remained about the same at about 1.1% of the population.

So much for that "reefer madness."

Russell Barth, federally licensed medical marijuana user, Nepean, Ont.

[end]

167 CN AB: PUB LTE: One Law For ThemWed, 10 Mar 2010
Source:Calgary Sun, The (CN AB) Author:Barth, Russell Area:Alberta Lines:24 Added:03/10/2010

The Conservatives preach a zero-tolerance policy to drug use and plan to impose mandatory jail time for people who grow even one marijuana plant in a rented dwelling, but when Rahim Jaffer, husband of an MP, is charged with drunk driving and possession of cocaine, he gets to plead down to "careless driving." One law for them, another law for the "little people." Maybe now more Canadians will realize what a bunch of brazen hypocrites these so-called "conservatives" really are.

Russell Barth

(Jaffer's hardly a poster boy for Conservative values these days.)

[end]

168 CN BC: PUB LTE: Tory HypocritesWed, 10 Mar 2010
Source:Province, The (CN BC) Author:Barth, Russell Area:British Columbia Lines:25 Added:03/10/2010

The Conservatives preach a zero-tolerance policy to drug use and plan to impose mandatory jail time for people who grow even one marijuana plant in a rented dwelling. Yet when Rahim Jaffer, the husband of a Tory MP, is charged with drunk driving and cocaine possession, he gets to plead down to "careless driving". One can only assume Jaffer had some help from his friends in very high places. One law for them, another law for the "little people."

Maybe now more Canadians will realize what a bunch of brazen hypocrites these so-called "conservatives" really are.

Russell Barth, Ottawa

[end]

169 CN AB: PUB LTE: What A Bunch Of Brazen HypocritesWed, 10 Mar 2010
Source:Edmonton Sun (CN AB) Author:Barth, Russell Area:Alberta Lines:25 Added:03/10/2010

The Conservatives preach a zero-tolerance policy for drug use and plan to impose mandatory jail time for people who grow even one marijuana plant in a rented dwelling, but when the husband of an MP gets caught drunk driving and in possession of cocaine, he gets to plead down to "reckless driving." One law for them, another law for the "little people." Maybe now more Canadians will realize what a bunch of brazen hypocrites these so-called "conservatives" really are.

Russell Barth, Ottawa.

(The case has a lot of people shaking their heads.)

[end]

170 CN BC: PUB LTE: No Sign Of Reefer MadnessThu, 04 Mar 2010
Source:Mission City Record (CN BC) Author:Barth, Russell Area:British Columbia Lines:43 Added:03/07/2010

Editor, The Record:

RE: More support needed to fight marijuana grow-ops

Robert T. Rock's assertion that "We're setting ourselves up for an explosion in mental health problems as the long-term effects of use become more apparent." doesn't hold water. Not only have the "studies" been repeatedly and soundly debunked, the math doesn't add up.

Canadians smoke the most potent pot in the world, we smoke more of it than any other country in the world, and teen pot use has increased four times in the past 30 years. There should have been a corresponding increase in the number of schizophrenia and psychosis cases in Canadian hospitals over that time, but the number of such cases has remained about the same at about 1.1% of the population. So while pot use has increased four times, psychosis has remained the same. So much for that "reefer madness" campaign.

And as for fixing the "grow-op" problem, how much more evidence do we need before we realize that the police and government approach is actually causing more problems than it is solving?

Russell Barth, federally licensed medical marijuana user

[end]

171 CN AB: PUB LTE: 'Fiscal Prudence' IndeedSun, 28 Feb 2010
Source:Edmonton Sun (CN AB) Author:Barth, Russell Area:Alberta Lines:30 Added:03/01/2010

To The Editor, RE: Justice Minister wants opposition to reinstate crime bills: Tory crime bills will necessitate the building of 12 brand new billion-dollar jails, and cost Canadians about $500 million every year. Why do we need so many new jails when crime has dropped for almost 30 years? Bill C-15 - which promises to pass this session - will impose mandatory jail sentences for simply growing one pot plant or passing a joint. Making more things illegal, or making illegal things even more illegal, guarantees attendance in these new cells. A US-style for-profit prison industry will likely do for Canada what it has done for the US: Increase crime, increase partisanship, fill the airwaves with balderdash, increase our debt, and make a handful of wealthy people even wealthier. "Fiscal prudence" indeed.

Russell Barth, Ottawa

(The drug war is archaic, pricey and dangerous.)

[end]

172 CN AB: LTE: To Russell BarthSun, 21 Feb 2010
Source:Edmonton Sun (CN AB) Author:Boyle, Drew Area:Alberta Lines:24 Added:02/23/2010

To Russell Barth. Buddy, we get it! You are pr-marijuana. We all realize how exciting it must be for your mary jane smoke-clouded brain to see your name and regular pro-pot rant in print. But, really brother, it got old for the rest of us a long time ago. Either find something new thing to complain about or just take another hit out of your bong and let it be. That would be groovy, man!

Drew Boyle

(That's all YOU have to complain about?)

[end]

173 CN AB: PUB LTE: Marijuana Can Alleviate PainsFri, 19 Feb 2010
Source:Edmonton Sun (CN AB) Author:Barth, Russell Area:Alberta Lines:23 Added:02/23/2010

The main reason anyone asks to be euthanized is pain. If medical marijuana were more widely available, the whole issue of euthanasia would be moot. And, yes, marijuana certainly can alleviate pains that even huge doses of morphine cannot because it acts differently on the nervous system and brain.

Russell Barth

(Pot isn't the answer to everything , Russell.)

[end]

174 CN ON: PUB LTE: Jail Time Not A Crime DeterrentMon, 22 Feb 2010
Source:Northumberland News (CN ON) Author:Barth, Russell Area:Ontario Lines:60 Added:02/23/2010

To the Editor:

Re: 'Cobourg roundtable discussions examines justice system' (Feb. 19).

The Conservatives are anything but "tough" on crime. Their crime and drug policy has three parts: 1) To pander to myopic, media-addled, punishment-fetishists who make up his voter base and who think jail is the best cure/deterrent for any behaviour; 2) to paint anyone who speaks sensibly about drugs as "soft" on crime; 3) to impose a U.S.-style, for-profit prison industry onto Canadians.

[continues 252 words]

175 Canada: PUB LTE: Jack's Brave BattleTue, 09 Feb 2010
Source:National Post (Canada) Author:Barth, Russell Area:Canada Lines:20 Added:02/10/2010

Recent science out of Germany shows how cannabinoids stimulate the body's production of TIMP-1, which helps healthy cells resist cancer invasion. More recently, research from Spain shows how THC reduces tumour growth. Jack Layton could get even a medical marijuana license from Health Canada.

Russell Barth, Nepean, Ont.

[end]

176 CN NF: PUB LTE: Defending PotMon, 08 Feb 2010
Source:Labradorian, The (CN NF) Author:Barth, Russell Area:Newfoundland Lines:38 Added:02/10/2010

Dear Editor:

RE: Safety trumps privacy (Feb. 1, 2010 editorial)

"Sure marijuana is not even in the ballpark with crack cocaine, but it does fall under the illegal category making it difficult to justify its use."

I can think of about a dozen reasons to justify using cannabis. It has dozens of medical applications, and even when smoked, its benefits outweigh any dangers.

Also, chronic daily users don't suffer anywhere near the impairment that a casual user would. By that I mean, there are people smoking 10 joints a day and you would never know it to look at them, while other people are visibly impaired by just a few tokes.

[continues 52 words]

177 CN NF: PUB LTE: Defending Marijuana UseMon, 08 Feb 2010
Source:Aurora, The (CN NF) Author:Barth, Russell Area:Newfoundland Lines:39 Added:02/10/2010

Dear Editor:

RE: Safety trumps privacy (Feb. 1, 2010 editorial)

"Sure marijuana is not even in the ballpark with crack cocaine, but it does fall under the illegal category making it difficult to justify its use."

I can think of about a dozen reasons to justify using cannabis. It has dozens of medical applications, and even when smoked, its benefits outweigh any dangers.

Also, chronic daily users don't suffer anywhere near the impairment that a casual user would. By that I mean, there are people smoking 10 joints a day and you would never know it to look at them, while other people are visibly impaired by just a few tokes.

[continues 52 words]

178 CN AB: PUB LTE: Informed Drug Use Not DangerousTue, 02 Feb 2010
Source:Didsbury Review, The (CN AB) Author:Barth, Russell Area:Alberta Lines:61 Added:02/04/2010

Re: Parents talk drugs

Dear Editor:

Here are some facts parents never consider:

1. Junk food will kill many times more Canadians this year than all illegal drugs combined.

2. In 5,000 years of recorded history, marijuana has yet to kill a single person.

3. The cellphone your kid uses every day is many times more likely to cause cancer than the pot he buys over the cellphone

4. Recent science out of Germany shows how cannabinoids stimulate the body's production of TIMP-1, which helps healthy cells resist cancer invasion. (www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20071226/pot-slows-cancer-in-test-tube)

[continues 277 words]

179 CN BC: PUB LTE: More On MarijuanaWed, 27 Jan 2010
Source:Valley Voice, The (CN BC) Author:Barth, Russell Area:British Columbia Lines:42 Added:01/31/2010

Will Webster ('War on pot is not working,' Dec. 16) misunderstands the purpose of prohibition. Marijuana prohibition has never had anything to do with public safety; it is all about control.

Prohibition gives police all the power they need to harass the poor, the young, people of colour, and people with nonregulation haircuts.

Look at countries like the US, where the War On Certain Plants has been filling jails to bursting. A handful of people are getting very wealthy from this policy, and it has been a huge success.

[continues 125 words]

180 CN ON: PUB LTE: No, It Serves a Useful PurposeSun, 31 Jan 2010
Source:Toronto Star (CN ON) Author:Barth, Russell Area:Ontario Lines:23 Added:01/31/2010

Re: Abolish the Senate instead of trying to reform it, Column, Jan. 28

If it weren't for the Senate, Bill C-15 would already be law. That would mean people would be facing mandatory jail time for growing as few as one to five marijuana plants. We would need to build more than a dozen new billion-dollar jails to house all of these gardeners. For all of its foibles, the Senate is the last thing keeping us from becoming a full-on dictatorship.

Russell Barth, Federally Licensed Medical Marijuana User, Nepean, Ont.

[end]

181 CN BC: PUB LTE: Police Help Growers At LargeTue, 26 Jan 2010
Source:Langley Advance (CN BC) Author:Barth, Russell Area:British Columbia Lines:25 Added:01/29/2010

Dear Editor,

The people happiest about these busts [Cops mulch marijuana grows, Jan. 22, Langley Advance] are the 95 per cent of growers who are not being caught. Every single bust is a subsidy to the rest of the industry.

The cops know it, which leads me to wonder just which side of the law these clowns are really on.

Russell Barth,

Nepean, Ontario

[end]

182 CN AB: PUB LTE: DARE Program A Hate Crime?Wed, 27 Jan 2010
Source:Airdrie Echo (CN AB) Author:Barth, Russell Area:Alberta Lines:52 Added:01/27/2010

As a federally licensed medical marijuana user who is also married to one, I consider DARE nothing less than a government-sponsored hate-crime. Sending cops in to teach kids about drugs is like sending in a priest to teach them about sex: "Just don't do it, or you will be in big trouble."

"You can't really get to them too young." Imagine if the police came into a school and preached one religion over another? There would be public outrage! But when police go into schools to preach the merits of their abstinence cult, they get government funding!

[continues 232 words]

183 CN BC: PUB LTE: Drug Letter RightThu, 21 Jan 2010
Source:North Island Gazette (CN BC) Author:Codere, Bruce Area:British Columbia Lines:30 Added:01/24/2010

Dear editor,

Letter writer Russell Barth (Drug tests unfair, Dec 01) is right on all points.

If Members of Parliament, the judiciary or the police had to submit to random drug tests, every drug under the sun would be legal the next day.

The hypocrisy of our drug laws cannot be overstated.

"If you are afraid to speak against tyranny, then you are already a slave." - John Bryant

Bruce Codere

Fox Creek

[end]

184 CN ON: PUB LTE: Differing Opinions on Prorogation of ParliamentThu, 14 Jan 2010
Source:Orangeville Citizen (CN ON) Author:Barth, Russell Area:Ontario Lines:41 Added:01/18/2010

RE: D-C Liberal candidate blasts prorogation

Although proroguing parliament is a scandalous erosion of democracy, we should be thankful that Bill C-15 - which offered mandatory jail time for the growing of a single marijuana plant - has died for a while.

Passage of this bill would have required the building of at least 12 brand new billion-dollar prisons, and about $2 billion every year to maintain them. The threat of jail time would have caused the mom and pop growers to leave the business, leaving more customers for the gangsters.

[continues 97 words]

185 CN BC: PUB LTE: Medical Marijuana Has Preventative QualitiesSat, 16 Jan 2010
Source:Nanaimo Daily News (CN BC) Author:Barth, Russell Area:British Columbia Lines:27 Added:01/17/2010

Re: 'Dementia a looming crisis, says new report' (Daily News, Jan. 4)

Medical marijuana has been positively indicated in treating not only the symptoms of Alzheimer's, but also in blocking a protein that causes it.

But don't bother telling anyone. They won't believe it -- no matter how much science you show them -- and even if they do, they will still put grandpa on thorazine because that is what they think they are supposed to do. They would rather have him throwing a tantrum in the mall than -- heaven forbid -- smoking a joint outside.

Russell Barth

Napean, Ont.

[end]

186 CN BC: PUB LTE: Who Are You Calling An Illogical Half-wit?Thu, 14 Jan 2010
Source:Georgia Straight, The (CN BC) Author:Cardinal, Rob Area:British Columbia Lines:32 Added:01/15/2010

I would like to congratulate two fellow writers, Russell Barth and Richard Steeb, for their excellent breakdowns of what is abysmally wrong with our minority Conservative government [Letters, January 7-14]. How is it possible to have any respect for Stephen Harper when he seems to spend more time forelock-tugging and bowing to the wishes of the U.S.? I have no doubt that he misses his former "boss", George W. Bush.

I should also mention that his stubborn refusal to legalize marijuana makes him and his caucus look suspiciously like supporters of organized crime instead of fiscally responsible stewards of this country's revenue base. It's a no-brainer, but try explaining that to illogical fundamentalist half-wits like Harper, [Stockwell] Day, and [Tony] Clement.

Rob Cardinal

Vancouver

[end]

187 CN BC: PUB LTE: Charter Means NothingTue, 12 Jan 2010
Source:Now, The (Surrey, CN BC) Author:Barth, Russell Area:British Columbia Lines:42 Added:01/13/2010

The Editor,

Re: "Drug conviction upheld despite charter breach," the Now, Jan. 8.

This, to me, is more proof that the cops, courts, and government in this country are systematically corrupt. Ignoring breaches of Charter rights is never acceptable because injustice anywhere diminishes justice everywhere.

Another example of the ridiculous corruption in Canadian courts: the Parker and Hitzig rulings effectively struck down the prohibition of marijuana as unconstitutional.

That means that every pot bust since the summer of 2000 is illegal and unconstitutional, and that people are being fined and jailed under a dead law.

[continues 65 words]

188 CN BC: PUB LTE: Don't Trust Horsemen When It Comes To DrugsTue, 12 Jan 2010
Source:Alberni Valley Times (CN BC) Author:Barth, Russell Area:British Columbia Lines:47 Added:01/13/2010

Re: RCMP offer drug info session, (Alberni Valley Time, Jan. 6).

Police routinely lie and exaggerate the so called "dangers" of drug use, so anyone looking to the Horsemen for "truth" about drugs or drug use is sadly misguided. How many times do you have to be lied to before you smarten up? Hundreds of times, apparently. The Horsemen are the last people anyone should be asking for honest and factual drug information.

There is also a misconception in our society that suggests that only drug-abstinence is to be encouraged and admired. Telling kids to "never" use certain drugs is like telling them to never see a certain genre of movie, never go to an amusement park or exotic country, or never do anything at all that may be both risky and fun. It teaches them to be afraid of new things, instead of curious, and as history has shown, fortune favours the adventurous.

[continues 127 words]

189 CN ON: PUB LTE: Teens Too Smart To Buy Anti-Drug AdsSat, 09 Jan 2010
Source:Barrie Examiner (CN ON) Author:Barth, Russell Area:Ontario Lines:43 Added:01/11/2010

A kid of about 13 wanders through a house party. He goes outside where there are a quartet of pot smokers who offer him a joint.

He thinks for a moment, then there are all these quick flashes of him with pills, hiding stuff under his bed, getting into fights with his family, falling asleep in class and getting busted at school.

The ad implies that trying pot once will turn you into a full-on drug fiend within days. This flies in the face of all science on the subject, but since when were facts used in anti-drug ads?

[continues 125 words]

190 CN ON: PUB LTE: Medical Marijuana Can Help With Stress InjuryTue, 05 Jan 2010
Source:Northumberland News (CN ON) Author:Barth, Russell Area:Ontario Lines:40 Added:01/09/2010

To The Editor:

Re: Living with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder a daily struggle: Former soldier (Dec. 31)

Medical marijuana has been positively indicated in the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. In fact, it works better than the toxic, addictive, often suicide-inducing pharmaceuticals usually proscribed for this condition.

My wife and I both use it to stave off the symptoms of PTSD - including the darkest thoughts that comes with it. The side effects are mild and easily to live with.

[continues 84 words]

191 CN ON: PUB LTE: Get Off the PotThu, 07 Jan 2010
Source:Eye Weekly (CN ON) Author:Barth, Russell Area:Ontario Lines:38 Added:01/09/2010

Re "The rights side of history," City, Dec. 24: "Ironically, these regulations made way for an unexpected shift towards decriminalization when, in 2003, a Supreme Court ruling said that allowing access to pot without providing a legal supply is unconstitutional. And for a brief period in Ontario during that year, marijuana was actually decriminalized." Man, are you misinformed. The Parker and Hitzig rulings struck the prohibition of marijuana possession down as unconstitutional. The 2003 ruling was a simple possession case that was fought using Parker and Hitzig, and it struck down the prohibition again.

[continues 117 words]

192 The 2009 Letter to the Editor Writers of the YearFri, 08 Jan 2010
Source:DrugSense Weekly (DSW) Author:Lake, Richard        Lines:50 Added:01/09/2010

2009 saw two letter writers achieve amazing numbers of published letters. Russell Barth had 183 letters published. Robert Sharpe had 176 letters published. Since there may be letters from each which were published but not newshawked to MAP we consider this accomplishment a tie and recognize both of them as The 2009 Letter to the Editor Writers of the Year.

Russell Barth writes to Canadian newspapers from his home in Nepean, Ontario. Canada has less than an eighth the number of daily newspapers as does the United States. MAP has archived a total of 678 of his published letters which you may read at http://www.mapinc.org/writers/Russell+Barth

[continues 179 words]

193 CN NS: PUB LTE: Drug Bill To Increase CrimeWed, 06 Jan 2010
Source:Record, The (CN NS) Author:Barth, Russell Area:Nova Scotia Lines:65 Added:01/09/2010

To the editor,

I believe Bill C-15 is designed specifically to increase crime. It is designed to manufacture more criminals so that the new multi-billion dollar for-profit prison industry.

Also, by scaring off the small time pot growers with threats of mandatory jail time, the government is handing more of the business to the gangsters who are not afraid of anything. This will result in more wealth for them, which means more violent competition.

Future governments will use this inevitable increase in crime to justify the increased budgets and powers of police, the building of a dozen more jails, and the further erosion of our collective civil rights and liberties. It also helps them pander to their myopic and misinformed voter base, and paints anyone sensible as soft on crime.

[continues 258 words]

194 CN BC: PUB LTE: Conservatives Push Jail Time And ProhibitionThu, 07 Jan 2010
Source:Georgia Straight, The (CN BC) Author:Barth, Russell Area:British Columbia Lines:48 Added:01/08/2010

Bill C-15 was designed specifically to increase crime [Straight Talk, December 31-January 7]. It is designed to manufacture more criminals.[for] the new multibillion-dollar for-profit prison industry. Also, by scaring off the small-time pot growers with threats of mandatory jail time, the government is handing more of the business to the gangsters, who are not afraid of anything.

This will result in more wealth for them, which means more violent competition. Future governments will use this inevitable increase in crime to justify the increased budgets and powers of police, the building of a dozen more jails, and the further erosion of our collective civil rights and liberties. It also helps them pander to their myopic and misinformed voter base, and paints anyone sen-sible as "soft" on crime..Of course, legalizing and regulating marijuana alone would save us about a billion dollars a year, generate an additional $3 billion in annual tax revenue, free up police resources, and drastically reduce the demand for hard drugs. That is $4 billion a year for things that actually reduce drug use, like treatment, education, health care, job creation, and social programs.

[continues 85 words]

195 CN AB: PUB LTE: No Reason for Optimism in 2010Mon, 04 Jan 2010
Source:Edmonton Sun (CN AB) Author:Barth, Russell Area:Alberta Lines:31 Added:01/06/2010

Canadian marijuana users see no reason for optimism in 2010. As a federally licensed medical marijuana user who is also married to one, I had to watch a bunch of U.S. states pass laws pertaining to marijuana issues, while watching our own government take us back to the 1950s by implementing mandatory minimum jail sentences for growing as few as five plants. I have watched as our government handed a Canadian citizen over to U.S. authorities for selling seeds! I have watched as the unconstitutional medical marijuana licence fiasco continues unabated and uninvestigated at Health Canada. I have watched as police officers and fire officials lied to the public and the media about the so-called "dangers" of legally permitted pot gardens. 2010 is the year many Canadian medical pot users expect to be arrested simply for having a medical condition. There is no reason to be optimistic.

Russell Barth

(The drug war is a huge waste of time and money.)

[end]

196 CN ON: PUB LTE: The Tory/liberal Crime AgendaTue, 05 Jan 2010
Source:Toronto Star (CN ON) Author:Barth, Russell Area:Ontario Lines:33 Added:01/06/2010

Re: 'Tough on crime' stance needs scrutiny, Opinion Jan. 2

The Tories' crime policies have two functions:

1. Pander to their myopic, visceral, punishment-happy voter base. This "tough" stance makes anyone who speaks sensibly about crime sound "soft," which is why Liberals have gone along with it instead of pointing out how insane it is.

2. Develop a U.S.-style for-profit prison system. Crime has been dropping for 30 years, so they need to justify all of this ridiculous spending on cops, courts and cages to the public. The best way to fill up jails is to make more things illegal, or make things even more illegal.

My only consolation: If these Tory/Liberal coalition gangster-subsidization bills unleash a violent and bloody Mexico-style drug war in Canada, maybe we'll start voting with our heads instead of our "gut."

Russell Barth, Educators for Sensible Drug Policy, Ottawa

[end]

197 CN MB: PUB LTE: Getting What We DeserveTue, 05 Jan 2010
Source:Winnipeg Sun (CN MB) Author:Barth, Russell Area:Manitoba Lines:36 Added:01/06/2010

Re: 'Dubious prediction: Dancing PM,' Greg Weston, Jan. 3.

You forgot the crime agenda, Greg. The Tories will get their crime bills passed and that will cause a huge surge in jail building. A U.S-style, for-profit prison system is what the Harperites wanted, and that is what they will get. We will need 12 to 15 brand new billion-dollar jails to house all of the pot growers the government promises to jail.

Then we will need to spend about $2 billion every single year to keep those jails full and maintained. Serves us right for electing Harper in the first place. We deserve every bad thing that happens to us. But on the bright side, CanJail Inc. will create many jobs for guards and staff, and since a large number of men under 30 will be in jail, they won't be categorized as "jobless". That will cause the "unemployment" numbers to drop even more.

( Maybe he'll bring back capital punishment next. )

[end]

198 CN NS: PUB LTE: Drug Bill Designed To Increase CrimeSat, 02 Jan 2010
Source:Evening News, The (CN NS) Author:Barth, Russell Area:Nova Scotia Lines:64 Added:01/05/2010

To the editor,

Re: Government needs to take modern approach to drug laws (Letter to the editor, Dec. 30)

Bill C-15 is designed specifically to increase crime. It is designed to manufacture more criminals so that the new multi-billion dollar for-profit prison industry.

Also, by scaring off the small time pot growers with threats of mandatory jail time, the government is handing more of the business to the gangsters who are not afraid of anything. This will result in more wealth for them, which means more violent competition. Future governments will use this inevitable increase in crime to justify the increased budgets and powers of police, the building of a dozen more jails, and the further erosion of our collective civil rights and liberties. It also helps them pander to their myopic and misinformed voter base, and paints anyone sensible as soft on crime.

[continues 258 words]

199 CN ON: PUB LTE: Medical Marijuana Can Help In Alzheimer'sTue, 05 Jan 2010
Source:Ottawa Citizen (CN ON) Author:Barth, Russell Area:Ontario Lines:31 Added:01/05/2010

Re: Study warns of dementia's ravages, Jan. 4.

Medical marijuana has been positively considered in treating symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, but also in blocking a protein that causes it. But don't bother telling anyone. They won't believe it -- no matter how much science you show them.

And even if they do, they will still put grandpa on Thorazine because that is what they think they are supposed to do.

They would rather have him throwing a tantrum in the mall than, heaven forbid, smoking a joint.

Russell Barth,

Nepean

Educators for Sensible Drug Policy

[end]

200 CN BC: PUB LTE: Anti-Pot Campaign Will Only Increase Teen Drug UseSun, 03 Jan 2010
Source:Surrey Leader (CN BC) Author:Barth, Russell Area:British Columbia Lines:52 Added:01/03/2010

Have you seen the new not4me anti-marijuana ads from the Harper government (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NZGPVBCrjY)?

A kid of about 13 wanders through a house party. He goes outside where there is a quartet of pot smokers who offer him a joint. He thinks for a moment, then there are all these quick flashes of him with pills, hiding stuff under his bed, getting into fights with his family, falling asleep in class, and getting busted at school.

[continues 187 words]


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