POT AND POT-HOLES

Your recent article on marijuana use amongst drivers in the region was
an interesting one (Driving High, Jan. 10). I was particularly drawn
to the statement referring to Cannabis Buyers' Club of Canada
vice-president Gayle Quin saying she finds that "smoking marijuana
makes her a more careful driver." Yikes!

Such statements adversely affect the marijuana advocacy movement. Just
because Quin has not suffered an accident (I assume) while driving
high does not mean that she was actually being a more careful driver -
even if she thought she was. Her statement completely undermines the
movement's cause for marijuana decriminalization. What government or
authority would take seriously a group who can admit only the pros of
their cause and completely ignore the cons?

In order for the pro-marijuana movement to be successful, we need to
approach the issue with truth. While marijuana may be a powerful
therapeutic tool, it does not mean that it is without consequences.
These consequences are known as side effects, and when pharmaceutical
companies ignore the negative side effects of their products and
people are adversely affected, we get up in arms. So what makes the
marijuana movement so different?

Chris Wells

Camosun student