LAWS BANNING MARIJUANA CREATE GROW HOUSES

Dear Editor,

Seriously, what did you expect when you pushed for laws to ban a plant that
two million Canadians love to smoke? That the business would disappear? And
stop selling pot to consumers who want it? Get real.

It's a $7 billion business annually and its prohibition that gives control
of the business to organized criminals that like to grow it in cheap rental
houses (well, cheaper than commercial space, that is for sure).

If pot were legal we could actually make laws that require growers to do it
outdoors or in properly configured indoor spaces. If pot were legal we
could put age and quality controls in place so that the kids have a harder
time getting it and so that if and when they do get some at least it won't
be poisoned. But we're such cowards. We'd rather pretend pot didn't exist.

You can be sure my kids are getting a real education about marijuana but
sadly it won't come from your newspaper.

Chris Hagglund,

technology director, Ontario Consumers for Safe Access to Recreational
Cannabis, Burlington