LEGALIZING MARIJUANA MAY HAVE SIDE EFFECTS

In his article of May 13, "Ignore, U.S. war on marijuana, poll says",
reporter Ken MacQueen interpreted the finding that "55 per cent
disagreed with the current law making possession of marijuana for
personal use a criminal offence" as meaning "Greater Vancouverites
seem to support smoking pot".

Disapproval of prohibition is not the same as support for prohibited
substances. I do not think we should burn witches at the stake, but
that does not mean I support witchcraft. I think that all the
currently prohibited drugs should be legalized, regulated and taken
back from organized crime, but that does not mean I support drug use.

When over 70 per cent of Americans demanded the repeal of alcohol
prohibition, they were not expressing support for drinking, alcoholism
or Al Capone. They were expressing belated recognition of the
painfully obvious.

Matthew Elrod
Victoria