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, Canada