REGULATING CANNABIS IS THE PROPER ROUTE TO GO

Editor: Tom Fletcher (Drug Investments Climbing, The Times, Jan.
14), isn't just accurately describing the way things are - he's describing
the direction things are moving too.

In the early 1970s, the Le Dain Commission's report and Canada's 2002
Senate Committee on Illegal Drugs report unanimously recommended
regulating cannabis (marijuana) the same way as alcohol. Since Canada
ignored those recommendations, the problems associated with
prohibiting the relatively safe, socially acceptable, God-given plant
cannabis have escalated.

And it's not limited to Canada; look at what's happening in the U.S.
and Mexico.

Millions of North Americans have utter contempt for the continent's
discredited cannabis laws, which are nothing more than
government-subsidized discrimination. Millions of North Americans
demand cannabis, and one way or the other that demand will be honoured.

Cannabis will be cultivated and it will increase rather than decrease.
Except for those who profit, nearly every person who uses cannabis
would prefer to acquire it from regulated sources, but all will
purchase it in the black market if necessary. It's just a matter of
who consumers give their money to.

Right now consumers are ready, willing, able and eager to give it to
regulated sources, along with its share of taxes to government but if
government doesn't want it, well.

The money is changing hands either way.

Stan White

Dillon, Colorado