Pubdate: Thu, 27 Jul 2006 Source: Nelson Daily News (CN BC) Copyright: 2006 Nelson Daily News Contact: http://www.nelsondailynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/288 Author: Jade Giesen Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) WORLDS FROM A CONTROLLABLE SUBSTANCE To the editor: When the term "controlled substance" is used in simplistic reference to a complex, naturally occurring medicinal plant like cannabis, it comes off as uninformed. Cannabis use is virtually as common as caffeine globally, and by not progressively legalizing it - as if assuming an inherent right to legislate the bounty of Nature, we flatly deny the "elephant in the living room" that most can plainly see. As misrepresented and beneficial as the sacred cannabis plant is - short of wasting more public resources on busying ourselves with the nature of popular, established venues such as our local Holy Smoke Culture Shop - it's time to respectfully acknowledge that this multi-faceted, valuable flora is worlds away from being a "controllable substance". Jade Giesen Nelson, B.C. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman