WEAK ARGUMENTS

Dear Editor:

Re: "No pot of gold" (Sept. 6 editorial). So, yet another study has been
presented showing that the evil weed is, in fact, not so evil at all. So
far, we've heard that it should be disregarded because it's a
"back-to-school gift for drug pushers" (ignoring that underage use and
unregulated sales would be prohibited under legalization) and the "wrong
message" to send to youth (in other words, lie to them with the status quo
propaganda).

Of course, when one takes time to actually read the Senate report, these
and other weak arguments prohibitionists present are demolished
convincingly, and with medical and scientific proof. There is no
justification - legal, medical or moral - for the prohibition of cannabis.

In the 1990s, neo-conservatives were quite successful in portraying public
union bosses as "fat cats" who make all kinds of ridiculous statements in
the never-ending quest for more funding. Why should the dinosaurs at the
Canadian Police Association or the National Association of Professional
Police, two groups that have come out strongly against this report, be
viewed in any other light?

Tim Meehan, communications director, Ontario Consumers for Safe Access to
Recreational Cannabis, Toronto