RE-LEGALIZE IT

Squamish - Prohibition not only doesn't work ["Prohibition still
doesn't work," The Chief, April 17] it increases hard drug addiction
rates. At the very minimum it's time to re-legalize cannabis and one
reason to do it that doesn't get mentioned is because it will lower
deadly hard drug addiction rates.

DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) will have to stop brainwashing
youth into believing lies, half-truths and propaganda concerning
cannabis, which creates grave future problems.

How many citizens try cannabis and realize it's not nearly as harmful
as taught in DARE type government environments? Then they think other
substances must not be so bad either, only to become addicted to
deadly drugs. The old lessons make cannabis out to be among the worst
substances in the world, even though it's less addictive than coffee
and has never killed a single person.

The [U.S.] federal government even classifies cannabis as a Schedule I
substance along with heroin, while methamphetamine and cocaine are
only Schedule II substances. For the health and welfare of North
America's children and adults, that dangerous and irresponsible
message absolutely must change.

Further, regulated cannabis sales would make it so citizens who
purchase it would not come into contact with people who often also
sell hard drugs, which would lower hard drug addiction rates.

Stan White

Dillon, Colorado