DECRIMINALIZING POT DETRIMENTAL STEP FOR SOCIETY

Editor:

Dan Germain's Sept. 24 letter to the editor appears to me as a
head-over-heels approval rather than a tongue-in-cheek look at the marijuana
legalization lobby. I am sure millions of Canadian men, women and teenagers
need not be convinced of the disastrous consequences entailed by the use of
marijuana or any other harmful drugs for the simple reason that little or
negligible regulations exist on the use of tobacco and alcohol.

The whole world is aware of the dangers and ill effects of the degrading
practice of using narcotics, tobacco and alcohol, although "the caravan
moves in spite of dog barks" throughout history. We are in an era when the
harmful effects of tobacco, alcohol and other narcotics (like marijuana) on
the health of a person are well documented. The general consensus could
therefore be predicted the masses in any civilized society would protest
measures contemplated on legalizing marijuana, notwithstanding the
unhampered use of tobacco, alcohol or any other squalid stuff.

What is considered before legalization of anything should be the various
factors that contribute to the progress of the society or the country as a
whole. Use of narcotics that quickly leads to addiction and progressive
ruining of an individual has clearly been for the detriment of society, far
from contributing to the progress of a country in any manner. Therefore, the
legislature of a country should stand by its responsibility in terms of the
well being of its people and reject any moves to legalize narcotics.

The lobby for legalization of marijuana is undoubtedly backed by the big
business that has plagued the Third World countries for a long time and done
the damage. Drug trafficking has become the preliminary and fundamental task
of the underworld that the perpetrators have created. Terrorism, social
disruption, quarrel, murder, robbery, theft and plundering, child abuse,
untimely death and suffering are rampant in those countries. Attempts to
rehabilitate those addicts devour millions of people's money. They are now
heading towards treading their path of success and enter into legalization
by approaching the developed and powerful western countries.

The die-hard lobby is mainly for making big money.

Human rights organizations should, at least after broad-based realizations
of Sept. 11, keep their hands off this type of demeaning lobbies.

Canada is now receiving the brunt of wrongful recognition of certain claims
for the grant of so-called "rights" for the gay and lesbian (same-sex)
couples in consideration of agitations launched by interested parties and
organizations. It has now come to pass that the whole matter is becoming a
money spinner after the Toronto judgment of July 12. It is revealed in
another provincial court, some millions of dollars would be claimed as dues,
arrears, lawsuit charges etc., by some in the process.

Similarly, the lobby for legalizing marijuana will take its turn as a big
money spinner by scheming international entrepreneurs and, maybe, in Mr.
Germain's own words, "you can prove beyond all doubt that marijuana is
addictive like tobacco and alcohol, thereby assuming future profits for the
drug growers while they get subsidies from provincial and federal
governments to stay in business."

Let this not bear fruit.

ANANDA WIJESINGHE