HEMP INDUSTRY WOULD BENEFIT FROM POT DECRIMINALIZATION

Editorial - Re: 'Majority of Canadians want to decriminalize pot
possession, poll' (Jan. 4, The Daily Post).

Could we not, for the sake of argument, divide 'decriminalization of
marijuana' into three areas of conversation:

Agricultural - due to the stereotyping of all hemp causing 'reefer
madness', the Americans prevented non-the producing strains of hemp to be a
crucial agricultural crop. They annihilated the prosperous hemp industry in
their own country. Did you know the original blue jeans were sewn from
recycled hemp sailcloth? The nautical world swore by hemp rope, and hemp
sails adorned those three mast schooners. Watch a show called 'Hemp
Revolution' aired by PBS if you want to realize all the agricultural
benefits of hemp.

The point is, an American administration caused the loss of thousands of
jobs plus untold dollars in agricultural and manufacturing/engineering
economical prosperity by their unsubstantiated propaganda campaign 'Reefer
Madness'. I've seen the film. Ask Australia, Sweden and many other
countries about the rejuvenation of hemp industries.

The U.S.A. have actually prevented documented cases of physically ill
citizens from taking marijuana as a medically recommended drug to ease
their problems. And not just chronically ill people either! Glaucoma
victims who could have prevented blindness, stroke victims like myself who
could use the neurological benefits provided by reefers.

And Toronto law enforcement shut down the operation that provided 1,200 ill
patients receiving medicine that actually let them live instead of just
existing!

Existing laws are doing more damage than good in our medical communities.

This I believe is the most controversial part of the marijuana issue. If
recreational smoking was allowed as it should be (until you can prove
without a shadow of a doubt that it would cause more damage than good in
medicinal terms), the only real difference to society will be that we pot
smokers will legally grow our own - 12 plants a year, just enough for our
own use. You won't get increased crime rate, or increased mental institute
expenses. But you may want to buy stocks in the munchie suppliers.

Dopeheads over obnoxious alcohol drinkers any day!

Give dopeheads equal rights as valium and other tranquilizer takers (did
someone mention drug companies? Oh my, you bad little chap!) To cap off my
recitation here, I would like to re-enforce the words that I, myself, read
on these very pages: Let statistical and factual data determine the issue,
and not personal opinions! And that is the end of my personal opinion based
on statistical, factual data!

The last point of personal irritation in the article was the quoted
American reference threat: with 'reefer madness', which was the American
propaganda program created to obscure of factual information of marijuana.
True story! And it wouldn't be like the American capitalistic
pharmaceutical firms to help out if their profits were at risk? No, not them!

I look at the U.S. like this:

They are mere mortals and therefore they do make mistakes! But just like
dealing with seniors, get them to admit it.

Great, loyal neighbours.

Like Canada, their administrations have not always governed as their
citizens would sometimes prefer.

They can teach anyone a thing or two about patriotism.

They are unquestionably the masters of presentation and illusion.

They have many outstanding features and some not-so-outstanding ones.

Their administrations however, paint a different picture to the world.

In general, I believe the majority of our southern neighbours are
peace-loving, down to earth, caring, intelligent, responsible, loving
people. So why do their administrations continue to emit arrogant,
war-monger, unintelligent vibrations to the rest of the world?

Let's put it this way: Any country which still allows Klu Klux Klan
chapters to exist, and which still is won't move for medicinal reasons on
an outdated zero tolerance drug policy, is quite simply not worthy of my or
my country's respect.

Therefore, I suggest we take what the Americans say about any current
issues with more than a few grains of salt. Threats or no threats!

Brian M. Grummitt

Daytonia Beach