WAR AGAINST MARIJUANA IS AN EXERCISE IN FUTILITY

Re: 'Legalization probably best' (Paul Walton column, Daily News, May 17)

I think that many across the country would agree with this column and
that "legalizing pot along the same lines as we've legalized booze and
tobacco" is long overdue.

Now, how do we make our government and the U.S. government see that
the "war on drugs" was lost some time ago?

I've read that part or the Green Party platform is to legalize and tax
marijuana, and now with Elizabeth May in Parliament, perhaps it's
something that could at least be debated for a start.

Mind altering substances have been around far longer than any of the
big brother bureaucrats who naively think they are protecting us.

Legalizing and taxing pot would be a start to eliminating the criminal
element and the revenue gained could help educate people on the
hazards of hard drug use as well as rehabilitation of those addicted.

We would also be joining a few other countries that have realized the
futility of a losing battle.

Jim Corder

Nanaimo