POT STATUS QUO VS. LEGALIZATION

Kurt Langmann (The Leader, May 20) has some good ideas about the need
for enhanced community involvement and mentoring of young people. But
he's wrong that legalizing marijuana in Canada won't take the profit
out of the marijuana industry in B.C.

And he's wrong to suggest that the U.S. is highly unlikely to
legalize marijuana. In fact, I suspect that marijuana will be
legalized in various U.S. states before we have the courage to do it
here. It is already legal to possess marijuana (and grow it) in your
home in Alaska. Legalization is being debated in California and
Massachusetts at the state government level and enjoys majority
public support in both states. Legalization barely missed becoming
law in Nevada in the last two election cycles.

More to the point, there is a tremendous amount of money being made
in the domestic Canadian industry. Canadians consume upwards of 10
million grams of marijuana each month. At street prices that
represents about $100,000,000 in sales per month - no small potatoes.
Legalization here would drive the price down so far that it may be
difficult for criminals to compete with the legal market.

It is probably also worth remembering that Canada is a minor supplier
of marijuana to the U.S. Most of its marijuana is produced
domestically (good Californian cannabis is as good as so-called "B.C.
bud") and the bulk of its imported marijuana comes from Mexico. And,
by the way, it isn't only B.C. Bud that sells for higher prices in
the U.S. - all quality marijuana is more expensive there.

Mr. Langmann, though, is right that legalization is no panacea.
Failing to legalize, however, is a guarantee that the status quo will
remain or worsen.

Kirk Tousaw

Vancouver