Letter Of The Day

FREEDOM OF CHOICE

RE "CAUCHON admits to reefer madness" (July 17): By the time I got to the
last word of this story, in which Justice Minister Martin Cauchon admitting
smoking pot as a youth, I was smiling.

Can you imagine how much freer the courts will be without all the piddly
nonsense of marijuana cases?

Perhaps the courts will have more time to focus on major crimes, in a more
focused manner, when not rushed to a decision based upon the 15,000
possession cases before them. Can you imagine the police being able to
focus more on the serious crimes in this city when they are not overworked?

As I sit here typing this, and lighting another cigarette (from whose
deadly addiction I have not be able to escape), I am smiling. Why? Because
the decision to smoke is mine.

However, over on my dresser lie my Nicoderm patches. Yes, I have a quit
date. And you know what is so wonderful about the whole thing? Each
decision is mine without threat of court action.

And you know what is extra special? One day, those who would have been put
through the court system for possession of marijuana will be able to have
the same freedom I have now, except they won't be killing themselves slowly
in the process.

There is nothing like informative advertising to provide you with choices,
and I believe if the government can provide for marijuana the options it
does for cigarettes and alcohol, then I, for one, will be happy.

Dianne Parr

Toronto

(And if the government can figure out how to tax marijuana, and control its
distribution, the way it does cigarettes and alcohol, it will be happy too)