COLUMN BY HOY RAISES IRE OF READERS (2 of 3)

Hoy, like Harper, Clement, and all the others bent on controlling the
lives of other people to alleviate their own fears, seem to think that
if you don't obey the laws, then you deserve to suffer. Their
Orwellian message is clear: 'Obey or die'.

Never mind that junk food kills many times more Canadians than all
illegal drugs combined.

Never mind that alcohol and tobacco kill in similar
numbers.

Ignore the fact that it is the prohibitionist mindset of punishment
happy sickos like Hoy that caused this mess in the first place.

Forget that there are only enough treatment beds for a small fraction
of the people afflicted.

Forget that the laws around drugs in Canada are arbitrary,
hypocritical, counterproductive, and serve only to subsidize gangsters.

Never mind that - no matter what Hoy says - Harm Reduction is a proven
success, and that the US-style drug laws put forth by our Tory
overlords is failing everywhere it has been used.

Never mind that it costs far more lives and money to approach the
problem with 'zero-tolerance' than with some compassion and pragmatism.

Just obey, and abstain.

Don't question authority.

I submit that it is harmful and ridiculous people like Hoy, Harper,
and Clement that are keeping this country from moving forward with a
sensible drug policy. They are the problem, not the solution, and
maybe they are the ones who should be locked away - for all of our
safety.

RUSSELL BARTH

Federally Licensed
Medical Marijuana User

Patents Against Ignorance and Discrimination on Cannabis

(PAIDOC)

www.paidoc.org