LEGALIZATION OF CANNABIS MAKES SENSE

I'd like to expand on comments by Stephane Bourbonnais ("Letters to the
Editor," Dec. 27), with which I agreed fully. I would take his suggestions
a couple of steps further. The legalization of cannabis makes sense on all
fronts.

The federal government loses millions in revenues it could generate, not
just by taxing the legal sale of pot, but in the actual manufacturing of
the product itself. The fortunes made from this viable industry could then
be injected into our struggling health care system to decongest existing
hospitals, build new state-of-the-art facilities, and shorten waiting
periods for life-extending surgeries.

As Mr. Bourbonnais accurately points out, Canadians will consume their
substance of choice regardless of legality, and have been for decades, and
in significant quantities, if my university exposure is any indication. Why
not capitalize on this lucrative market for the greater good?

Law enforcement agencies throughout the country have been largely tolerant
of personal consumers for a long time, making only sporadic searches and
arrests, and turning a quasi-blind eye to recreational use. One might
easily argue that marijuana is already legal here; everywhere but on the books.

Why not follow the Dutch example and put an end to the hypocrisy once and
for all? Cannabis users are not criminals and have been dying to come out
of the closet. The government should have taken decisive action on this
issue a long time ago. The fact that this is still being endlessly debated
signals only that there are too many old farts in Ottawa who haven't got
the slightest experience with what it is they're debating and who wouldn't
know pot from parsley. Keep on the grass.

John Galaise

(Actually, we suspect just about everyone involved in the debate has used
pot at one time or another -- which may prove your point)