THE PUSH TO LEGALIZE POT ISN'T CUT AND DRIED

Hallelujah to Simon Fraser economist Stephen Easton for his opinion
about marijuana. I found it amusing when a new task force recently
was created to address the gang-war problem arising locally. How we
love to create simplistic "might" will create right solutions and
policies similar to America's war on drugs. Today's issues related to
underground marijuana production are strikingly similar to the
Prohibition era. Unlike alcohol, however, should cannabis be
legalized, it will not lead to increased levels of violence, domestic
abuse, and accelerated levels of incarceration.

We need to turn a corner in our thinking and understand that the fear
we have about marijuana use leading to more serious kinds of drug use
is a myth. The question is whether we can move forward and embrace
policy based on evidence, or do we instead, like the days of old, let
the moralistic views of a few dictate the direction for everyone? I
hope we find the political will sooner rather than later to adopt
progressive policies about marijuana based more on fact than on fear.

Stuart Johnston

Osoyoos