LEGALIZING CANNABIS WOULD SOLVE PROBLEMS

To the Editor,

Re: Trustee's past not something to laugh off, Letters, Dec. 15.

Madeline Bruce continues her recent pattern of using shoddy science
and misunderstood claims to justify her beliefs.

She cites Carol Falkowski, who claims 100,000 people a year seek
treatment for cannabis addiction in the U.S.

Leaving aside the fact that this assertion is not backed up by hard
data and that Falkowski is a heavily biased source, what Bruce fails
to recognize is that in the U.S., the vast majority of all those
seeking rehabilitation for "'marijuana addiction' are doing so for
the sole reason that they have been brought to trial for possession
of a small amount of the drug, wherein they are given the choice to
go to jail and have a criminal record, or to declare they are
"'addicted' and seek treatment.

According to the U.S. justice deptartment website, "The criminal
justice system actually serves as the largest referral source for
drug treatment programs."

What Bruce mistakenly feels is an epidemic, is actually just
thousands of happy people who enjoy smoking cannabis who have been
criminalized by unjust laws and opt, understandably, to mitigate
their punishment by seeking treatment.

No doubt Falkowski knows this but chooses to be deceptive; Bruce
seems simply clueless of the bigger picture.

As for keeping cannabis out of the hands of children, the only method
to accomplish this is to legalize and regulate it.

It is easier for high school kids to get cannabis than alcohol or
illicit prescription drugs.

Why? They are regulated, whereas Bruce and her ilk would prefer
cannabis to be left in the hands of gangs who do indeed prey on children.

Whelm King

Lantzville