POT DEBATE

Dear Editor:

As a cannabis advocate with a number of published letters in papers across
Canada, I am dismayed by the fact that Gabriel Harkins in his letter
objects to the publishing of letters from individuals who do not reside in
Mississauga.

That dismay however, slips into incredulity when he states, "if The News is
so starved for editorial content that it has to print letters from outside
Mississauga, let me know." This is laughable; unless of course Mississauga
stems from some embryonic cocoon separate and distinct from the rest of
Canada! Not.

Gabriel Harkins fulmination of Allen Randell's letter, is another matter;
decorum is obviously a condition of little significance to Mr. Harkins.

The decriminalization of simple possession of cannabis, in, of and by
itself, would simply establish a system of ticketing that would rise
exponentially based on any increased volume (of those) ticketed. Fines
ultimately could still lead to incarceration, either because of failure to
pay or the number of times caught. The decriminalization of simple
possession of cannabis would not address the multitude of problems inherent
with prohibition.

Wayne Phillips

Hamilton