CANADA SHOULD DROP ITS POT LAWS

Re: Pot Laws Are Just Fine, letter to the editor, July 29.

An astonishing 42,922 people were charged with simple possession of
pot in 2005. Does that qualify as "rarely enforced"?

Prohibition of marijuana subsidizes organized crime and makes pot
easier for kids to access than either alcohol or tobacco. It wastes
billions in tax dollars and police resources every year, endangers
everyone and deprives Canadians of an additional $3-billion in
potential annual tax revenue. The laws as they stand now only benefit
the dealers.

Furthermore, medical users like myself and my wife live in constant
danger and fear because of the laws as they are. The bust, publicity
and subsequent home invasion of federal medical marijuana
licence-holder Tom Shapiro of Regina is proof enough that no one can
be trusted, especially not the police or government!

I challenge letter-writer Erik Kyren to explain what good has ever
come from prohibition. I submit that anyone who thinks prohibition is
a good way to control drug use in our society is either a fool or a
drug dealer.

Russell Barth, federal medical marijuana licence-holder, Ottawa.