Editor:
Re: Legalizing marijuana opens the door to host of social problems, Nov. 16
I had an opportunity to read this article by an addiction specialist, yet it is incorrect. Although passionate as he lost family members to addictions and his son is also sadly addicted, the information quoted doesn't support his views, in my opinion.
Cannabis is not a gateway drug any more than wine. So many things are stated about cannabis but almost all have been proven false. Let me explain:
First and foremost, marijuana is not and never has been addictive. We would have more addiction centres than hotels if there was any truth to this statement and unfortunately, misinformation is how many will base their opinions and actions. To say it can be habit forming would be concise. A bowl of your favourite cereal each morning may be habit forming as well. Tobacco is addictive, not pot.
Stimson states, "I am quite OK with decriminalization but not legalization," but then he states, "By making this dangerous, addictive potentially lethal drug more easily available for our youth we put their lives and others at risk." It's contradictory at best.
Fact: in Holland they decriminalized and made it legal to buy, possess and smoke cannabis.I talked to a friend of mine who happens to be a drug enforcement officer in Holland (he has been a policeman for 25 years). He says his county made a big mistake as it allowed people to buy, possess and smoke cannabis but not to grow it.
Therefore, gangs grow it, control it and make all the money and the government still spends a fortune trying to bust grow operations (his main job) and try to control it coming and leaving the country.
Had Holland developed it and controlled it like alcohol, or at least allowed you to grow your own, the gangs would be hit hard in the pocketbook and nobody would buy from them. It hasn't been a major healthcare issue, to date.
To legalize cannabis in Canada we could pay down our national debt, take the gang involvement out of this trade and inform our youth properly with education, not looking the other way with decriminalization. The government could control the quality, the levels of THC, the packaging, the distribution, the cultivation, the age of consumption and the cost profit margins. However, penalties for selling need to be increased.
Will it have social problems? Yes, everything does, from high heel shoes to airplane glue. People with addictive personalities and mental illness will always have issues. It is here now, it isn't coming or new.
For Stimson to say how proud he was of Delta Mayor Lois Jackson opposing the other mayors in supporting the trend in legalizing marijuana just serves to tell the reader how sadly out of date they both are.
C. McGuire
