THE GREAT CANNABIS DEBATE

Should Canada decriminalize marijuana? Licia Corbella took the
affirmative and Michael Coren the negative on Monday in our
Point/Counterpoint debate. Here's what some of you had to say in reply.

While she is usually pretty level headed, Licia Corbella sounds like
a complete fool in her debate with Michael Coren regarding the issue
of legalizing marijuana. First she claims that billions of dollars
could be saved if police would not spend time arresting people for
small personal possession of marijauna. Then she flips completely
around and accepts Coren's contention that since police are only
focusing on major drug dealers and not users, the drug should be
legalized anyway. She then makes the ludicrous claim that marijuana
is not harmful to one's health. These very same arguments are
repeated ad nauseum by virtually every pothead I've ever talked to.

BARRY BANEK

Wow, this seems to be a debate between the rational (Licia Corbella)
and the unrational (Michael Coren). As a recreational pot user I am a
little offended by his comparison of pot use to theft, rape and
assault. Remarkably there are people (like myself) who are
responsible pot users. We hold good jobs, pay our rent/mortgages, pay
our bills on time and pay our taxes. To me pot is like alcohol
(without all the nasty side effects). You don't drive when high, you
don't go to work high or do anything you shouldn't do while under the
effect of alcohol (or marijuana). It's that simple. Think of the
money that could be made in decriminalizing it.

M. MCCARTNEY

As a former nurse, I acknowledge some limited medicinal benefits of
marijuana. As a father, taxpayer, conservative and all other things I
represent, legalizing marijuana is just one more step down the
slippery slope to social anarchy. In terms of probable damage to
societal standards, legalizing marijuana will be as destructive as
legalizing gay marriage, safe injection sites, abortion, no-fault
divorce and any number of sociological lib/left experiments that have
proven beyond any doubt their society-destroying capabilities.
Canada: Where the demands of the individual trump the greater good
every time. Pity.

DERYCK

Michael Coren states that "alcohol can be used responsibly, whereas
any use of cannabis makes one incapable." It is quite obvious that
Mr. Coren has never used marijuana, and therefore is in no position
to comment on its effects. Fact is, cannabis can be used every bit as
responsibly as alcohol. I guess he makes the assumption that all of
us pot smokers are incapable of exercising control over the amount of
the drug we ingest, and quite frankly I find the remark insulting.

J. HARTLE

I agree with Michael Coren. Marijuana is not a benign substance. It
cannot be used responsibly and therefore needs to remain illegal. I
have no sympathy for anyone who actually gets charged with and
convicted of possession (of which there are far too few). They were
all well aware of the consequences beforehand.

CHARLIE

My husband and I are on medical marijuana and we think it should be
legalized. The police should be arresting people who rape and kill
and kidnap and do harder drugs.

C. CLAUDIO

Marijuana is a DRUG in case most of you haven't noticed. Do you think
for one minute that alcohol or tobacco would have been made legal
knowing what we know now? I don't think so. Now research is starting
to show that marijuana is not the harmless substance the majority of
Canadians think it is. It should remain illegal. However, simple
possession should be the subject of a fine or community service.

JIM