Pubdate: Thu, 03 May 2012
Source: Abbotsford Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 The Abbotsford Times
Contact:  http://www.abbotsfordtimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1009
Author: Gary Huntbatch

ONE WAY TO END THIS REEFER MADNESS

Editor, the Times:

It is good that a Lower Mainland coalition of eight mayors is asking
for the decriminalization of marijuana. While there are those who
oppose this move on the grounds that pot is a gateway drug to more
dangerous drugs, here is my opinion as to why they are both right, and
wrong.

If pot were a gateway drug then a large percentage of those over 50
would be either dead from overdose, criminally supporting a habit or
just totally wasted each day from their addictions.

That is my argument against the 'gateway' concept. On the other hand,
with pot as an illegal substance the only way to obtain it is through
the criminal element, the pusher. The pusher, like any good
salesperson/entrepreneur, will try to up sell you to a more addictive
and higher profit product because the pusher's only interest is making
money. That then is my view supporting the idea that yes, pot is a
gateway drug, but only if it is illegal. I hope the mayors' initiative
will spread to other mayors MLAs, premiers and MPs throughout the
country bringing an end to the madness.

Gary Huntbatch

Abbotsford
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