AGREED: MARIJUANA SHOULD BE LEGALIZED

Dear Editor - Bravo! The thought-provoking editorial, "Marijuana is not a
joke" (the Guelph Mercury, March 19) accurately illustrates how
legitimizing cannabis production would solve two problems simultaneously:
that of illegal grow ops and, a means by which to tax cannabis.

I disagree, however, that taxing cannabis to the hilt would be effective
measure.

Translated into humane, progressive legislation, cannabis could become a
taxed commodity whose returns could be channeled back into drug education,
research, treatment/rehabilitation centres and the creation of jobs, jobs,
and more jobs!

Relatively few who favour cannabis prohibition give much regard to the fact
that it is prohibition itself which has fueled the 'black market
entrepreneur' and 'organized crime'.

By providing an environment conducive to the dictation of an un-taxed
inflated value rather than the intrinsic value of this herb, government
legislation is in fact directly responsible for the profitability of
grow-ops which attract 'organized crime'.

Reconsidering Canada's antiquated cannabis policies would also allow for
the amount of money which is currently being spent on enforcement, such as
Operation Green Sweep and prosecution (in 1999-2000 it was in access of
$450 million!) to be channeled into other areas of policing and
security-related strategic concerns or health care, education, and social
concerns.

Wayne Phillips

Hamilton