MP BLIND ON POT DECRIMINALIZATION

To the Editor,

Decriminalizing marijuana sends the right message to youth and to all
Canadians.

It is a sign that this country is progressive and finally recognizes that
it is not reasonable nor just for Canadians who use marijuana to be deemed
criminals. There is a significant percentage of Canadians who would feel
let down by their government if decriminalization does not go through.

I have no objection to people who oppose the use of marijuana but it is
terribly wrong for them to impose their opinion on the rest of society.

I don't know where MP James Lunny (Proposed pot law opens door to abuse,
says MP - Oct. 16) is hiding because he seems to be blind to the fact that
so many people are using marijuana already and have been for a long time
regardless of the law.

It is absurd to think that decriminalization will create greater health
care costs and will cause even more people to drive while high.

I really wonder if the Canadian Alliance MPs even understand the intentions
of the proposed bill. I get the impression they believe decriminalization
is not simply making it no longer a criminal offence to possess personal
amounts but rather it is in some way promotion and advocacy of its use by
the government which is definitely not the case.

So if this legislation does go through marijuana will still be illegal and
if Mr. Lunny truly wanted to cut profits of organized crime he should be in
support of full out legalization because that is the most effective way to
deal with the problem.

You know, there is one thing I agree on with Mr. Lunny and it is that
smoking anything is not good for you, but I would like to point out that
not everybody smokes it to get high.

Simon Alexander,

Nanaimo