OPPONENTS OF LEGALIZED POT ARE OUT OF TOUCH

Marijuana a gateway drug? If so, it's not the first gate. When I was a
teenager 10 years ago, the kids who smoked pot were generally kids who
smoked and drank already. That isn't to say that anyone who has a cigarette
will eventually move on to a joint. I do feel, however, that
decriminalizing pot will take away the stigma of committing a criminal offence.

Although I don't believe that any drug "use" should be deemed as a criminal
activity, I believe that decriminalizing marijuana will lessen the
association others may find between it and harder, dangerous drugs such as
cocaine and heroin. This is especially true for future generations who will
only have heard about the prohibition of marijuana.

Ryan Harmer Langley

The Canadian Alliance has demonstrated yet again it is out of touch with
the values of Canadians with our own local curmudgeon Randy White's
comments about the marijuana policy advocated by a Senate committee.

I want an option to our arrogant federal Liberals, but the Alliance keeps
proving it is out of touch with the vast majority of Canadians.

The report by the Senate was brave to say the least and it was no surprise
the "usual suspects" -- read the Canadian Police Federation -- would
condemn it using decades-old, worn-out anecdotal evidence instead of proven
science and common sense. After all, the policy, if enacted, may cost them
jobs.

To see Stephen Harper and Randy White jump on the broken-down cart informs
all that -- to paraphrase Pogo -- the enemy is (not) us, but the people who
wish to impart their moralistically narrow social values upon the rest of us.

I don't smoke the stuff any more (guess I beat that nasty addiction thing),
but I don't trust people who can honestly say that they never have.

Mark Strong Vancouver