MAJORITY OF READERS FAVOR MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION

Editor's Note: Last month's feature on marijuana and grow ops generated
lots of response from readers. We were approached on the street, called on
the phone and emailed. One woman called to say she was all for legalizing
it and that society accepted it long ago. "Everyone I know smokes it and
everyone I know grows it," she said. Our readers agreed.

In our online poll last month we asked:

Do you think the possession and use of marijuana should be legalized,
decriminalized, or left alone?

An overwhelming 64% voted in favour of totally legalizing marijuana use,
while another 32% want it decriminalized. Only 4 % of respondents want the
law to stay as it is.

Thanks to everyone who used our reader poll. The question for our
politicians now is...is anyone out there? And is anyone listening?

Here's some reader's comments:

Take marijuana out of the hands of criminals!

I think it is interesting that in the same issue as "A Growing Business"
you had an article about what a good time a group of folks had getting
'high' on alcohol(even playfully pretending to steal items from pubs
because they were so 'high') on the Timberland Pub's pub crawl. Most people
reading this article will think it is amusing and think there is nothing
wrong with a fun outing that allows everyone to get a little drunk.

I do not think there is any harm in enjoying a little alcohol and we
already know from past experience that making alcohol illegal because some
people abuse it only made it a profitable enterprise for criminals and
dangerous and expensive for those who bought and sold it.

There is solid research showing that marijuana is not as harmful or
addictive as alcohol (although like all substances including food, it can
be abused).

We also know it has many benefits for several serious medical conditions. I
personally had a friend whose use of marijuana when she was dying of cancer
improved the quality of her life so much more than anything else was able
to do. But because it was illegal it was expensive and difficult to obtain
from a safe and reliable source.

Yes! Decriminalize cannabis. Take it out of the hands of criminals. It is
the only sane thing to do. - Kathleen Keating Schloessinger

I liked your article on marijuana very much. The tone was calm and
appealing instead of the usual hysterical rants from the media. Well done.
- - Aaron Lagadyn

It was with interest that I read your article on that scourge of all plants
marijuana. The article was unbiased, perhaps even a little slanted to the
pot smoker. It was nice to note that it is not bikers and tongs that run
the ops on the Island but mom and pop ops seem to be the style these days.
The money they generate does return to the community be it in clothing,
groceries, etc. Many people these days think of growing as nothing more
than putting some extra grub on the table or $150 Nikes for the kids.

I was arrested in Parkville two years ago for growing. After spending a
year in court I was finally let off with a $1450 fine. I decided to serve
the time rather than pay the fine. When I went to do my time, I was told I
was a candidate for the electronic monitoring program.

The irony of the situation was superb. I had already started another op and
they dropped me back into it. So much for justice. Thanks for the
informative and fair article, although the RCMP section ruined the overall
feel of the piece - Mike

About your article on marijuana , if they were to legalize it, they could
then tax the grow ops and make them reform to codes and standards
(electrical). They could make money from licensing such places and thus
creating more income and reducing the hazard of dangerous grow ops. - Email

Great story I hope it wakes people up. Too bad the pictures on page 16
weren't in colour, it looks like good smoke. Got any left? - Email