ARGUMENT GOES UP IN SMOKE

The executive director of the police association was quoted saying: "Drugs
are not dangerous because they are illegal; drugs are illegal because they
are dangerous." However, if one takes a closer look at the history of drug
prohibition in Canada, this is clearly not the case.

In 1908, opium was banned in Canada, not because it was considered
physically harmful, but as a result of growing racial tension between white
society and Chinese immigrant workers.

Marijuana use was outlawed in Canada in 1923. It was prohibited not because
of the known dangerous effects of the drug, or because its use constituted
a substantial problem for Canadians; rather it was banned as an unnecessary
reaction to U.S. anti-drug propaganda. In fact, marijuana use was not even
common among Canadians during prohibition. The first official discovery of
illicit marijuana use was almost an entire decade after it was outlawed.

Tobacco use, on the other hand, was commonplace during this period of time.
It too was considered for prohibition. Interestingly however, it was
excluded from any act. Apparently, in 1911, the Canadian House of Commons
accepted MacKenzie King's unsubstantial argument that tobacco was clearly
not a dangerous, habit-forming drug!

Marijuana prohibition was enacted over 75 years ago. The decision was made
not because of a growing problem among Canadians, or because it posed a
significant health risk to the public. Rather, it was an arbitrary decision
that resulted in the future creation of many more social problems.

The cost of law enforcement, criminal justice and corrections is
extraordinary, and hundreds of thousands of individuals have been given a
criminal record for simple personal possession. This is not to mention the
ill effects of the black market for marijuana that exists in our country.
It is time to make a change. The harmful effects of marijuana use are few,
and the positive effects for many are substantial. The costs of marijuana
prohibition far outweigh the benefits to society.

J. ANN ROSS
Winnipeg