LETTER OF THE DAY

WITH THE recent hubbub surrounding Justice Minister Anne McLellan's
marijuana fears, perhaps it's a sign that we need another Royal Commission
to look at the issue. In 1972, the LeDain Commission recommended the
decriminalization of marijuana after four years of research. Over 25 years
later, pot is hot once again and the public wants a debate.

A recent Angus Reid poll found that 51% of Canadians want the full
legalization of marijuana. Similarly, a 1994 Health Canada survey revealed
69.1% support for either legalization or decriminalization. And, of course,
the Rebagliati incident triggered a stream of editorials and articles
across the country. Over 600,000 Canadians have been burdened with criminal
records for cannabis possession since the 1960s.

This is a tremendous injustice, something that the minister of justice and
the rest of Parliament needs to address. It's "high" time for a national
debate.

Chris Clay, Sechlet, B.C.

(Legalization is unlikely, but sympathy for the issue is unquestionably
growing.)