POT LEGALIZATION IS RIGHT! NO, IT'S WRONG! RIGHT! WRONG!

Editor, The News:

Christopher Foulds' Aug. 26th column was right on target. Canadian tax
dollars are currently being wasted on anti-drug strategies that only
make marijuana growing more profitable. In 2002, Canada's Senate
offered a common sense alternative when the Special Committee on
Illegal Drugs concluded that marijuana is relatively benign, marijuana
prohibition contributes to organized crime and law enforcement efforts
have little impact on patterns of use.

Consider the experience of Canada's southern neighbour, the former
land of the free and current record holder in citizens incarcerated.
Based on findings that criminal records are inappropriate as health
interventions, a majority of European Union countries have
decriminalized marijuana.

Despite marijuana prohibition and perhaps because of forbidden fruit
appeal, lifetime use of marijuana is higher in the U.S. than any
European country.

Unlike alcohol, marijuana has never been shown to cause an overdose
death, nor does it share the addictive properties of tobacco. The
short-term health effects of marijuana are inconsequential compared to
the long-term effects of criminal records. Canada should follow the
lead of Europe and Just Say No to the American Inquisition.

Robert Sharpe

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, D.C.