POT TODAY. COCAINE, HEROIN, CRACK, TOMORROW?

All of the readers whose letters were published on the readers' page
recently appeared in favour of legalizing pot. And all of them relied on
the same tired formula.

It seems every argument that supports the decriminalization of pot
points to alcohol and tobacco. This, at a time when society has spoken out
against tobacco smoking and alcohol abuse.

These days, society has almost zero tolerance for second-hand smoke
and for drinking and driving. So I ask; how can pot advocates rely on
the acceptance of one drug to back their demand for acceptance of
another, when there is no acceptance?

Science and public opinion seems to be headed in one way regarding
substance abuse and drug dependency while the pro-pot lobbists are
heading in the opposite direction. Imagine where their argument would take us:

- - 2002 -- legalize pot as we have alcohol and tobacco because to do
otherwise means harmless users are punished while organized crime profits.

- - 2009 -- legalize cocaine as we have alcohol, tobacco and pot because
to do otherwise means harmless users are punished while organized
crime profits.

- - 2014 -- legalize heroin as we have alcohol, tobacco, pot and cocaine
because to do otherwise means harmless users are punished while
organized crime profits.

What seems a timely argument for the legalization of pot today will
become a timely argument for decriminalization of other harmful drugs
tomorrow.

That is, unless we insist on enacting laws that reflect a society
which condemns any and all types of substance abuse.

Neil Sutherland,

Surrey