LEGAL POT WOULD CURE AILING FOREST

There is a fast way to solve British Columbia's economic woes and put the
United States in its place over the softwood lumber issue. Legalize marijuana.

Kamloops MP Betty Hinton supports the decriminalization of marijuana and
quite rightly points out that it doesn't make sense to burden someone with
a criminal record for a minor drug offence.

Canadian Alliance MP Keith Martin who is sponsoring a private member's bill
to decriminalize marijuana notes that "for far too long we have wasted
valuable time and resources of law enforcement agencies and courts on a
failed policy of minor drug enforcement."

Politicians are reluctant to take the issue one step further to
legalization because they fear the public outcry. However, opinion polls
indicate that the public is divided equally on the question.

Perhaps if more people realized what a huge industry marijuana production
is already, they might be more open to a common sense solution. Marijuana
is already being produced in great quantities with none of the direct
profits benefiting the taxpayers. The illegal operators make the money. The
taxpayers pay for law enforcement costs.

Government-controlled marijuana sales would rapidly replace the money lost
in B.C. from the lumber industry, caused by prohibitive tariffs imposed by
the U.S. Commerce Department.

But it is the potential of a thriving hemp industry that would give the
agricultural market in B.C. and Canada a massive boost. The hemp plant,
which marijuana comes from, also produces fibres for strong fabrics,
building materials and cardboard. That is only a few uses for the rapidly
renewable resource.

The United States, which is strongly opposed to the legalization of
marijuana, would be unhappy. However, it's unreasonable for that country to
expect British Columbians to watch its major resource disintegrate under
hefty tariffs and not look around for other ways to stimulate the economy.

There is the concern of sending a message to youths that mind-altering
substances are condoned, but government-controlled marijuana would be much
safer than the drugs that are currently available. Education and health
programs would also have to be a factor weighed in to any decisions
associated with the legalization of marijuana.

It's a controversial proposal for any government to contemplate, but that
doesn?t mean it shouldn't be thrown out for public debate and consideration.