LEGAL MARIJUANA WILL HAVE MANY SUPPORTERS

I am a federal medical marijuana exemptee in Canada and also retired
from law enforcement. Thus I was very pleased to read the
extraordinary common sense of Kathleen Parker.

Not only will North Americans benefit when adult marijuana use is
legalized, so will those who rely on steady access to appropriately
grown medical marijuana will benefit as well.

In a legal system, the medicine (marijuana) is distributed by
regulated dealers in a cross between pharmacies and adults-only
alcohol sellers.

Commercial production, when legal, is likewise motivated to operate
in regulated settings, so products can be as healthy as possible and
thus safer for the consumer or patient.

Those insisting on marijuana prohibition ignore the lessons of
history and are endorsing all production and commercial dealing be
100 percent unregulated and dealt totally on the street, often by
nefarious sellers whose product is unpredictable and who often openly
market to kids.

The primary obstacle to the Canadian government agreeably legalizing
and regulating the multibillion-dollar marijuana trade is Washington,
D.C.-inspired prohibition. Americans, if you lead, we will follow.

Alison Myrden

Burlington, Ontario, Canada