Pubdate: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 Source: Parksville Qualicum Beach News (CN BC) Copyright: 2003 Parksville Qualicum Beach News Contact: http://www.pqbnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1361 Author: Robert Saint Amour CANADA NEEDS TO GO ITS OWN WAY George Bush attempted to put any doctor that even talked about marijuana in jail - just one word and it would have been off to prison. Thankfully, the U.S. Supreme Court saw the insanity in this endeavour and ruled against it, leaving MDs across most of America free to discuss and even prescribe pot to people who have a medical need. Here in Canada, the issue will also be solved in our courts, but medical use is of lesser concern to Canadians. We are far more supportive of outright legalization and would have gone that route years ago if not for the ludicrous agenda of our neighbours to the south. The heir to the Liberal throne, Paul Martin, will do nothing. Following in a well-established tradition of, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," he will allow the pot issue to go its course. In fact, the vast majority of people don't care and consider many other issues far more important. People do not want to be told what to do and I for one will not go around telling my children that pot smokers are criminals, when they can see first hand, the damage done by alcohol and tobacco. I have yet to find anybody that would prefer a drunk to a pot head. We should not be afraid to establish our own policies and ignore the U.S.A.'s ridiculous views. After all, how long can this Bush regime last? It is time our government listens to us and ignores the insanity to the south. Canada has been doing this consistently and should continue along this path until our friends to the south come to their senses. Robert Saint Amour Surge Narrows, B.C. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman