CANNABIS LAWS MAKE NO SENSE

While I applaud your recognition that our cannabis laws are overdue for
reform, (Editorial, Nov. 8, "It's not a crime"), I am disappointed that you
still harbour illusions that cannabis is a "difficult-to-access substance"
that should remain a "controlled substance given its health risks."

Under prohibition, cannabis is only inaccessible to those who most need it:
the elderly, the sick and the dying. Irresponsible teenagers, the
population prohibition allegedly protects, consistently report that
cannabis is easier to obtain than beer.

Who exactly do you think is in "control" of cannabis?

Yes, long-term chronic use carries health risks, but if this justifies
penalizing all cannabis users, be they casual or chronic, youth or adult,
then should we not also ticket and fine all junk-food consumers, be they
fit or fat?

Sloth and obesity can have deadly effects, and tobacco kills more
Canadians, on a per-user basis, than all illicit substances combined.

Granted, snack-food prohibition would clog prisons and courts, corrupt
police, trample civil rights and finance organized crime through
power-diverting basement bakeries in our neighbourhoods.

Dessert cartels would develop more potent and easily concealed confections
of questionable toxicity and purity.

But our failure to control snack food and penalize adults with poor eating
habits sends the wrong message to kids.

Matthew M. Elrod

Victoria