CANADA SHOULD LEAD WAY ON EASING POT LAWS

It's clear from Solicitor General Rich Coleman's tough-guy response to Paul
Willcocks' column about marijuana laws that he's not a man to rethink an issue.

Other policy makers, however, might revisit the laws of cause and effect
through a look back to Prohibition. Those restrictive alcohol laws created
an industry for the real criminals. Mobsters moved in to reap incredible
profits from running rum and illegal drinking parlours, all the while
terrorizing citizens with gang violence. When saner heads prevailed and
laws were relaxed, police regained control and gangster rule ended.

Today's Joe Blow who gets high on weekends is no more a criminal than were
Ma and Pa back then for finding comfort in an occasional nip. Our laws
should reflect that reality.

The biggest complication in doing the right thing is what the neighbours
will think. U.S. laws need to move in step with our own. Canada can lead on
this issue, but only if it wants to.

Stephen McIntyre

Langley