MORE CLARITY ON THE DANGERS OF POT

Re: Pot 'Prince' Favours Jail Time In Canada, Jan. 15; No Deal
Finalized For Marc Emery,
Jan. 16,

I read with disgust Marc Emery's statement: "We want to overthrow the
U.S. government, we want to thwart the U.S. justice department's war
on drugs." The following day in a letter, his wife, Jodie, thanked the
Post "for allowing me to clarify my husband's possible fate."

Likewise, please let me clarify the fate of my drug-addicted, mentally
ill brother. He grew up in a small town in eastern Ontario. By the age
of 16, he was using marijuana, which served as a gateway drug to
harder drugs, and my brother eventually found himself living on the
streets of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Intravenous drug use lead to
him acquiring Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS, which caused serious nerve
damage, paralyzing him from the waist down.

Due to his chronic drug addiction and the anti-social behaviour that
accompanies it, no B.C. extended care facility could accommodate him.
One night, he was left sitting in the rain in his wheelchair, in
downtown Vancouver, frightened, vulnerable and homeless. My sister
managed to get him off the street that night and admitted to a
hospital. A residence was eventually found for him; however, his life
has been reduced to a state of misery, despair, loneliness and pain.

Drugs have stolen my brother's life and dignity. I firmly believe that
marijuana served as the gateway drug to my brother's tragic addiction
(and tragic life), so it confuses me to hear Marc Emery described as a
"hero" and small-time grow-ops/dealers described as "harmless."

Lynn King, Victoria.