WRITER MISSES POINT OF POT LEGALIZATION

To the Editor,

Re: Legalizing pot isn't appropriate answer, Letters, Jan. 7.

I enjoyed reading the letter but think it missed the main point of
legalizing marijuana.

The main point of legalizing marijuana is the same reason as alcohol
was legalized more than 90 years ago.

It was to take the criminal element out of the equation, to control
quality, distribution and get the revenue, instead of just all the costs.

Today the revenue of alcohol helps offset the cost of the harm
alcohol does to society and the revenue from legalizing marijuana
will do the same.

The point that the criminals will just move to the next illegal drug
of choice does not make a lot of sense, as they are already the only
ones providing those other drugs now.

They will just lose the most popular drug that they sell.

It gets down to a simple matter of supply and demand if the demand
is for marijuana and the government is selling it, there is no need
to buy it from a criminal.

If the demand is for the other drugs, then it would not matter if
marijuana was legal or not, as no one would be buying it.

Terrance Wagstaff

Nanaimo