PLEASED WITH SENATE VOTE

Editor:

I am writing in response to your editorial (Coast Reporter, Dec. 11)
regarding bill C15.

I am very pleased that the Senate had the common sense to raise the
number of marijuana plants grown from five to 201 before imposing a
mandatory jail sentence.

How absurd to waste police time, clog up our increasingly
dysfunctional law courts and fill up our jails with people guilty of
growing a few plants.

It is generally accepted in informed circles that marijuana is a much
less harmful substance than either alcohol or tobacco. Instead of
following the failed drug policies of the U.S., a more enlightened
approach would be for Canada to de-criminalize or legalize marijuana
and allow the police to prosecute and jail real criminals.

I suspect the only reason Bill C15 actually reached the Senate is
because both Conservative and Liberal MPs see these so-called "law and
order" bills as a misguided attempt to gain votes, and not because of
any real principles.

Alison Lindsay

Roberts Creek