LEGALIZED MARIJUANA COULD BENEFIT FARMERS

Sir: I expect you'll get a lot of negative response from your
common-sense July 18 editorial, "We're not dopes," to the effect that
cannabis use leads to hard drug use (not true), legalizing it will
expose our children to it (they're already exposed, and with it being
a symbol of rebellion, it's more attractive than it would be as a
legal substance), etc.

A point you failed to mention is the tax revenue marijuana would
generate as a legal, regulated substance, and the revenue
legalization would deny to criminals (organized or not).

Also it would provide a revenue stream to our hard-pressed farmers if
each were given a small quota to grow for the government store
(probably the LCBO).

Tobacco farmers want to change crops. Let them grow weed.

I don't use the stuff myself, but I know several people who do.

Jim Powell

Chatham