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Re; "Senate dope deal a mind blower," Neil Haesler, Opinion, Sept. 9.

Haesler asked us to picture students purchasing cannabis on the way to
school and showing up for class stoned. Sadly, this requires no stretch of
the imagination. As it stands, students purchase cannabis on campus. My
eldest daughter's high school is awash in illicit drugs, but for some
mysterious reason, there are no beer dealers to be found.

The Senate committee's report recommends that the provinces be permitted to
establish their own regulatory regimes. The committee anticipated
provinces, such as Alberta, setting the minimum age for cannabis the same
as it has set it for alcohol. Provinces might also forbid cannabis
distributors from opening their doors before late afternoon.

As it stands, anyone of any age can buy cannabis anywhere. We have more
control over cat food than we do the so-called "controlled drugs and
substances" because we have abdicated that responsibility to the Hell's Angels.

If you remember Deep Purple's Smoke on the Water, then you should remember
that the Rolling Stones hired the Hell's Angels to handle security at the
Altamont rock festival. Why not change the national anthem to "You Can't
Always Get What You Want."

Matthew M. Elrod, Victoria, B.C.