UNTRUE FEARS OF THE PROHIBITIONISTS

The Dec. 23 editorial on the proposed reduction in penalties for cannabis
possession merely parrots the trite and untrue fears of the prohibitionists
without contributing to the discussion.

Certainly the rabid Americans will say that border crossings will be slowed
as a result. They will say anything, however illogical, to browbeat us into
doing their bidding. Of course, the fact is that we are their largest
trading partner and they need our trade as much as we need theirs. The
slowing at the border, if any, will be temporary.

The editorial goes on to state that there is no specific penalty for
driving while impaired by marijuana. Whether impaired by antihistamines,
alcohol, fatigue, cannabis or other drugs, it is still impaired driving.
The fact is that testing for alcohol is the easiest one and that is why
there is a specific penalty for it. None of the other impairments are as
easily tested, yet there is still a penalty for them. Please try to give a
more balanced account of the situation to help the readers form a
reasonable opinion.

Bruce Symington

(Don't assume the Americans are trying to call our bluff. They take border
security much more seriously than do we.)