TOO MUCH EFFORT IN CANADA'S WAR ON POT

To the editor:

Cannabis is the safest and most effective stimulant, relaxant,
anti-depressant, pain killer and appetite stimulant known.

Unlike other stimulants (like caffeine and tobacco) other relaxants
(like alcohol and Valium) and other anti-depressants (like Prozac and
chocolate), cannabis has no negative short or long term health
effects, no record of death by overdose, and no major withdrawal
symptoms. By comparison, caffeine (also found in chocolate) is
associated with ulcers, stress, heart attacks, over-dose and over-use
deaths, heavy impairment in large doses, and a bad headache from
withdrawal.

The LeDain Commission recommended a variety of "drug peace" solutions
but has been ignored since 1973. Experts who testified against the
1996 Controlled Drugs and Substances Act were also ignored. Public
opinion polls have consistently shown since 1980 that a majority of
Canadians favour a European "Harm Reduction" solution.

After Switzerland switched to a harm reduction strategy on heroin,
the crime rate dropped by 60 per cent. By one estimate, 70 per cent
of Canada's crime is addiction-related in some way.

The 1993 BC Chief Coroner's Report into Overdose Deaths was a
comprehensive study commissioned by the NDP in British Columbia. Its
recommendations include decriminalizing pot, allowing prescription of
other substances, and implementing harm reduction strategies and it
has not been acted on at all.

The results from a $14,000 public-opinion survey conducted for the
city of Vancouver BC are 57 per cent among city residents are for
decriminalizing marijuana and 61 per cent say they support the
medical use of heroin for drug treatment.

Canada spends one to five billion dollars per year persecuting
cannabis users, growers and dealers. Two thirds of all drug charges
are for cannabis, and of those, two thirds are for simple possession.

Fifty thousand Canadians are charged every year, and 30,000 are
convicted. A third of those convicted for possession go to jail - the
rest are fined, given travel and employment limits and other life
long penalties. 2000 Canadians are currently in jail for simple
possession.

Almost one million Canadians have been given a permanent criminal
record simply for possessing cannabis.

In 1999, police made fewer arrests in every area of crime except for
marijuana. Canadian marijuana arrests increased 16 per cent in 1999,
following a 30 year trend.

Fred Sima
Elkford