.OR DOES IT?

The recently announced omnibus crime bill once again underscores the
importance of revisiting the prohibition of marijuana in Canada and
our failed war on drugs. This bill will undoubtedly cause an explosion
in our inmate population as at least 45% of Canadians (13.5 million)
have tried marijuana and up to 20% claim to use it regularly.

Marijuana is dangerous to our society because it is completely
controlled by criminals. Since there is such demand for this product,
we need to treat marijuana like alcohol or tobacco, and society would
benefit in terms of sales tax and new jobs.

Conversely, the new crime bill will cost taxpayers untold billions of
dollars and turn more people into criminals for something that almost
half of us have chosen to partake in. Let's choose regulation, not
incarceration.

Jim Dean

Ottawa