MEDICINAL PIPES

Barb Davies makes some interesting points in her letter, Drug
paraphernalia in stores, in The Guardian's Oct. 11 edition. But as a
federal medical marijuana license holder, who is also married to a
license holder, I think I can clarify a few things.

I would like to point out that those glass pipes can also be used for
smoking medical marijuana. To forbid the sale of these devices would
violate the Charter Rights of people who use cannabis for medical reasons.

However, displaying them in the open, where kids can see and even buy
them, is not acceptable in my view. Like tobacco, that stuff should
be behind the counter, or better yet, out of the reach of people
under the age 18 or 19.

As for the "moral or ethical values and the safety of our community,"
the blame for this ongoing mess falls squarely on prohibition. If
these drugs were regulated like alcohol, the crime would drop dramatically.

This is not an opinion, it is a scientifically and historically proven fact.

Just look at booze in the last century. Prohibition is the problem
and regulation is the cure.

I like Ms. Davies' idea of boycotting the stores, but I would suggest
she also write letters to her MPs and MPPs, demanding prohibition be
repealed and regulation be implemented immediately.

Russell Barth,

Ottawa