DECRIMINALIZING POT MAKES CENTS

In 2000, the Liberals looked seriously at decriminalizing, or even
legalizing, marijuana. With economies at all levels in dire straits,
it makes even more sense today. Imagine the revenues governments are
giving up to criminal organizations, which use them to fund other
more harmful operations. Governments would get sales taxes on
marijuana seeds and industrial growing equipment (for farmers) and
buds (for consumers), as well as income taxes from farmers and anyone
else who stands to profit from the new arrangement.

In 2004, 4.5 million Canadians admitted to having used marijuana, and
about 600,000 have criminal records due to possession. Do we really
want all these people to be criminals? Two-thirds of Canadians want
simple possession decriminalized or made legal.

It costs $50,000 to keep one person in prison for a year and each
year the Canadian government spends a staggering $500 million on
enforcing marijuana laws.

Enough with the games. The War on Drugs has failed. Prisons do not
work as deterrents, and they cost us millions to maintain - billions
if you count lost tax revenue. Do we continue to punish people for a
victimless crime, or do we recognize the facts and work to promote a
brighter, freer future for Canada?

Mike Evans, Toronto