POT SMOKE CLEARING

I'm writing in regards to an article, "Legalized pot proponents see golden
opportunity for debate" (Feb. 13). At long last, it would appear that some
of our parliamentarians are ready to reopen the debate for marijuana
decriminalization 25 years after their own Royal Commission recommended
the change.

Perhaps they have taken note of recent polls, including an Angus Reid
survey that found 52 per cent of Canadians support full legalization.

Unfortunately, almost without exception the few critics of legalization are
members of Canada's police forces. Perhaps they're afraid of the prospects
of catching real criminals using old-fashioned police work; cannabis
criminals are a peaceful bunch, and must be "easy pickings."

Obviously some police are as frustrated with the current laws as the
public, but others, like Staff-Sgt. John Smith of the Victoria police
still take a hard line.

From reading the Times-Colonist, it would seem that Smith is committed to
pursuing the failed war on drugs, and for lack of a rational explanation he
is trying to play up on parental fears.

He asks, what "young impressionable minds" will think of marijuana after
"the smoke has cleared" surrounding the news that a Canadian snowboarder
could capture a gold medal despite having used marijuana.

Hopefully our nation's youth will see that Canada's drug policies are a
failure; that responsible adults shouldn't be punished for choosing a
substance that the Addiction Research Foundation says is safer than
alcohol and tobacco; and that marijuana is tolerated by Canadian society.

Of course children shouldn't smoke marijuana.

Similarly, they shouldn't drink alcohol, bet on horses or read Hustler. At
the same time, we don't criminalize adults for this behavior...

Hopefully, Parliament, like Staff-Sgt. Smith, can kick their addiction to
pot prohibition and at least open their minds to the debate.

Chris Clay Sechelt.

HIGH PROSPECTS

Now that we know marijuana enhances performance, a world of possibilities
opens up. Drivers should be obliged to smoke a joint before taking to the
road, airline pilots should toke up and the House of Commons should be
ventilated with the stuff.

Patrick MacKinnon Victoria

CONFUSED GRANDMA

Smoking is smoking, be it marijuana or tobacco, and no good for the lungs.
Or is marijuana so miraculous it's beneficial?

How can Canada continue to promote the bad effects of smoking on our
health, warn parents about the dangers of second-hand smoke and ban
smoking in so many areas and now embrace the social aspect of marijuana?

Somehow it seems I rarely hear about its harmful effects on the lungs and
the debatable benefits to teens in particular.

I'm a confused little old grandma! Am I missing something?

Mable L. Baker Victoria

POOR ROLE MODEL

Never have I heard so much wasted air time and seen so much wasted page
space as in the current orgy of breast-beating, teeth-gnashing and whining
about a scofflaw on a snowboard and the opinions of his raucous friends.

Sadly, this admitted pot-smoker seems destined to become a cereal-box role
model for young people.

C'mon media people, get a life!

Dick Hainsworth Victoria

ROBBERY NOT LIKE SOFT DRUGS

Jim Taylor's column Feb. 12 likens bank robbery to soft drug use. About all
they have in common is being against the law.

Bank robbery is clearly not in the public interest. The laws against soft
drugs are what is not in the public interest, criminalizing substances
less harmful than nicotine or alcohol, and filling our courts and prisons.

J. McRee (Mac) Elrod Victoria

NAGANO GOLD

The most interesting part of the gold medal snowboarder is that this could
be the reincarnation of James Dean. Ross Rebagliati just might be the
leader the baby boomers have been looking for to once and for all take
care of our insane pot laws.

Lawyers judge, prosecute and defend the laws they make. They can't afford
to change them, so it's up to Joe Average gold medal snowboarder to wake up
the nation.

This guy's cool. He's more popular than any lawyer-politician, including
Trudeau.

Victor West Victoria