POT LAWS MAKE NO SENSE

Re: "Time to debate new pot laws," April 23.

I came of age in the 1960s, just had my sixtieth birthday, and after
40 years, I am still dumbfounded by the continuing insistence of our
government that people should be jailed for the use of marijuana.

It was the only thing that eased my mother's nausea as she battled
through chemotherapy and I have witnessed the relief it provides for
people in pain, including my own back pain before surgery.

Over 1,800 people died in B.C. last year from alcohol-related causes,
279 from hard drugs, but not one from marijuana.

Ask any police officer or social worker how many times they have
responded to a late-night call and found people using marijuana who
have stabbed or beaten each other to death.

What is wrong with this country that we can condone gambling, alcohol
and cigarettes because they make big money for the government yet
steadfastly treat the biggest and least harmful cash crop like it's a
deadly poison?

Maybe our politicians should try a doobie before question period. B.C.
would be out of debt in a year or two and the rancour and nastiness of
their debates couldn't help but diminish.

Scott Lyle

Courtenay