LEGAL POT WOULD FILL FED COFFERS

To the editor:

There is a strong resemblance between the prohibition of alcohol in
the 1930s and the prohibition of marijuana in the 2000s. Once the
liquor prohibition was lifted in the '30s the gangsters and
bootleggers were put out of business leaving millions to flow into
Ottawa's treasury. Legalizing marijuana would have the same effect
putting the drug gangs out of the business, putting the hundreds of
billions into Ottawa's treasury to help our economy and stopping the
drug killings in our cities.

I remember when the bootleggers stopped coming to our farm offering a
large sum of money to put a still in our barn.

The evil drug problem has now extended from Mexico through-out the
U.S.A. and into Canada where we are seeing drug gangs taking over our
cities. Increasing fines, extended jail terms and increasing our law
enforcement is like putting a small bandage on a bleeding artery.

The Middle and Far Eastern countries have used and lived with drugs
for over 6000 years because they know how to control it, and also use
it for medical benefits. Our medical doctors are able to prescribe the
use of marijuana for depression, eye problems and others ailments but
I have never heard any prescriptions for alcohol.

The Eastern countries forbid the use of alcohol as adamantly as we
forbid the use of marijuana because we have not learned how to control
its use. We only know the fears of excessive use. Alcohol and
marijuana are both dangerous drugs if used in excess. It would be
beneficial if the Eastern world and Western world got together to
share their knowledge so we can live with each and stop this carnage.

As far as I know, marijuana studies have been going on for over 80
years with much the same results. In 1971 I wrote a university paper,
The Need for Drug Reform, and the conclusions were the same as now. We
know an ounce of alcohol and a joint of marijuana has much the same
effect and we have accepted an alcoholic drink at a noon hour business
lunch is perfectly normal as Eastern business people accept a smoke of
marijuana with their business meetings.

We also fear the ill effects of some prescription drugs that can cause
serious illness or even death if misused. The pharmaceutical
manufactures earn billions but their products are regulated by federal
law and their support comes from government and big business.

There appears little difference between the heroin addict, alcoholic,
junkie, prescription drug addict or the glue sniffing kid-they are all
sick people who need help.

It is unfortunate we are increasing our law enforcement police
officers filling our jails in hope of stopping these out of control
drug gangs when removing the prohibition of marijuana will do the job
more quickly and effectively, but who in power who has the courage to
speak up about this possible solution?

Dot Davies-Fuhrman

Kelowna