Pubdate: Thu, 20 Jun 2002
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2002, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.fyiedmonton.com/htdocs/edmsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135
Author: Kirk Stephens
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1106/a02.html?1116
Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor; headline by newshawk

WAR ON MARIJUANA IS A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY

RE: "POT policy scandalizes drug czar," by Mindelle Jacobs, June 16.

The constant lies spewed by those fighting the war on drugs is laughable. 
What is even funnier is that they are coming to Canada to try to spread 
their lies.

Perhaps the U.S. drug czar should have considered that 10% of Canadians 
were reported to have used marijuana in the past year, 45% of Canadians 
have tried marijuana in their lifetime, and approximately 70% of Canadians 
feel that marijuana should be decriminalized and/or legalized.

It's time for the war on drugs to give up trying to make criminals out of 
ordinary citizens that may occasionally smoke pot. The real danger of drug 
abuse is in relation to hard drugs such as cocaine and heroin, not 
marijuana. The war on drugs has turned left and is now the war on 
marijuana. What a waste of time and money!

Kirk Stephens,

Red Deer

(You could say that Canadians are used to being lied to by politicians.)
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom