Pubdate: Mon, 16 Aug 2010
Source: Sudbury Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2010 Osprey Media
Contact: http://www.thesudburystar.com/feedback1/LetterToEditor.aspx
Website: http://www.thesudburystar.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/608
Author: Wayne Phillips
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n642/a10.html

POT LAWS MAKE NO SENSE

Re: Time to end prohibition on pot: callers-- Aug. 9.

Whether Canadians/ Sudburians are mellowing to the idea of legalizing 
marijuana or are simply tired of listening to government rhetoric as 
marijuana becomes increasingly available, it makes little difference. 
Canadians no longer want either the expense or the bother of the 
intrusiveness of government regarding marijuana. Is it any wonder why?

For more than a few decades now, Canadian governments have prodded 
and poked the issue of marijuana and its legislation. Ranging from a 
two-year study and the recommendations of a special Senate committee, 
which were ignored, to the matter of the Superior and Appellate 
courts in Ontario having repeatedly declared Canada's marijuana laws 
to be of no force and effect, to the ongoing anti-marijuana strategy 
by the current federal government; the matter of marijuana has become 
an incomprehensible entanglement of opposing standards that have 
failed to adequately address the situation or concerns at hand.

Has the positing of marijuana in the Controlled Drugs and Substances 
Act as a prohibited substance addressed the concerns surrounding 
marijuana? No, those who are at risk -- namely, youth and communities 
- -- are not being safeguarded. It would seem that if this threat of 
marijuana were in fact legitimate as claimed, then the matter of 
safeguarding youth and communities would be more intelligently 
handled and in a manner that undermines those who posed the threat 
(as opposed to enabling them.) This hasn't happened, nor by all 
indication, will it happen.

Interestingly enough, a comprehensive study released April 27 by the 
International Centre for Science in Drug Policy entitled, Effect of 
Drug Law Enforcement on Drug-Related Violence: Evidence from a 
Scientific Review exposes an extensive correlation between drug law 
enforcement efforts and increased drug-related crime, homicide and 
gun violence. The executive summary (found at http://www.icsdp.org/ & 
http://www.icsdp.org/research/publications.aspx ) demonstrates 
commonalities between violence and the illicit drug trade in relation 
to the impacts drug law enforcement has, as intervention, on drug 
market violence.

Wayne Phillips

Communication director, Educators For Sensible Drug Policy,

Hamilton
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