LOST IN THE LEGALIZATION HOOPLA

To the editor:

It was encouraging to see such a progressive piece of writing come out of
one of the highest political bodies in the land (Senate: Legalize Weed, The
Daily News, Sept. 5).

What is getting lost in all the hoopla surrounding the legalizing of pot,
is that this legislation recognizes the harmful effects of drugs on society
and treats them as a social and health issue, not a criminal one.

These are the first politicians in a long time to actually realize if you
want to curb drug usage, it is best to reduce demand among your citizens
and not focus on the supply side.

By reducing demand, you inherently destroy the supply - and the organized
crime it usually funds - while at the same time ensuring Canadians can get
healthy.

People in Canada use drugs. At the same time, many of these same people
(usually not pot smokers) do not want to. It is called addiction. It is a
mental disorder, and no amount of jail time or fines will ever help these
people. The only thing that will is progressive legislation based upon this
report.

I challenge people to look beyond the legalization of pot controversey that
will stem from this report, and think about how to honestly deal with
Canadian citizens who have a problem they can no longer control.

Anthony Gracey, Halifax