HEALTH, POT AND TAXES ARE ISSUES

Re: Keep The Focus On Policy, editorial, May, 25.

Your editorial raises an important issue seemingly lost on the leaders
aspiring to be prime minister of Canada in the upcoming election --
marijuana law reform.

We are seeing record consumption rates, seizures, and grow-op busts. A
recent StatsCan report shows that 75% of all drug offences in 2003 were
marijuana related, most involving young people. The number of Canadians who
hold a criminal record for possession continues to grow beyond its already
staggering rate of 600,000 and more young people are subject to search,
arrest and detention for something no more harmful than alcohol, as your
editorial notes.

On June 5 on Parliament Hill, Canadians will be offered an opportunity for
national expression on this issue during the federal election. The message
will be loud and clear: Don't vote for political parties who consider pot
smokers criminals.

Jody Pressman, Fill the Hill, Event Co-ordinator, Ottawa.