KEEP MARIJUANA ILLEGAL

Re: Everyone's doing it, Sept. 10.

I must take issue with this editorial -- no one gets a criminal record
for a first-time conviction for possessing marijuana. They get an
absolute or conditional discharge -- which ultimately results in no
criminal record. It is, in fact, a warning. If they continue to break
the law and get subsequent convictions for possession of marijuana --
they may end up with a criminal record. And they should -- for
wantonly disregarding the law of the land.

Would decriminalizing marijuana end up with more or less young people
trying the drug? My opinion is that more young people will try it,
just as more people experiment with decriminalized alcohol as opposed
to criminalized marijuana. If our intent is to have more young people
experimenting with marijuana, then by all means, let's decriminalize
it.

Your editorial also suggests that because 50 per cent of 18- and
19-year-olds have smoked marijuana in the past year, we should
decriminalize its use. If we are going to base public safety policies
on the input of teenagers, I shudder to think what kind of society we
are heading for.

Craig Hobson

Winnipeg