LEGALIZE MARIJUANA

MOST DAYS there is something in the papers relating to marijuana and gangs.
Police are quoted about the violence, or the number of grow-ops that keep
popping up, and how the laws aren't strong enough.

There is one way to change all this and the answer lies within the Senate
report that came out last year. That would be to legalize marijuana. Take
it out of the hands of the gangs and put it into the hands of the
government. Let the province sell it through the LCBO (MCBO?) stores or
even allow people to purchase permits to grow their own.

Marijuana is not the problem in the crime we read about, it's the money.

Violence in the United States during Prohibition was comparable to the
violence we see today with the "war on drugs." And how did they reduce the
violence back in the 1920s? They repealed Prohibition and made alcoholic
drinks legal again.

If cannabis prohibition were repealed in Canada, then the black market
would collapse. I believe the real reason for not legalizing marijuana is
that Big Brother south of the border will get mad.

Come on, Canada. It's time to stand up for yourself.

Wendal Grant, Peterborough

(More and more people believe legalizing pot is inevitable. Then the REAL
war on hard drugs can begin)