cannabisnews.com: Government Should Regulate, Not Decriminalize, Pot Government Should Regulate, Not Decriminalize, Pot Posted by CN Staff on August 05, 2002 at 13:15:52 PT By Wayne Phillips Source: Toronto Star It never ceases to amaze me that, in spite of the fact that neither cannabis users nor cannabis itself have ever lived up to the negative connotations spewed by prohibitionists, politicians and police, zero tolerance of cannabis and its users continues. Decriminalization is a poor substitute for the regulation of cannabis, because it would not address the multitude of problems inherent with prohibition. Opponents of legalization, busy promoting pseudo-science, flawed and contrived studies, phony moralisms and outright fabrications, are quick to spout off about concerns for youth, cannabis and mixed messages.However, those concerns are about as short-lived as the examples they set for youth. One has only to view any newspaper across Canada to realize this.The responsible thing for government to do is regulate cannabis in a manner similar to the way in which it regulates alcohol. That way, those under the age of majority would have a difficult, if not impossible, time obtaining cannabis. There would be very few, if any, lucrative residential marijuana grow operations and the prohibition-related hydro fraud problem would also virtually disappear, as would the risk of faulty grow operations and the potential for harm thereof.Prominent U.S. researcher John P. Morgan of the City University of New York Medical School, told a U.S. Senate committee that smoking marijuana does not seem to cause lung cancer, emphysema or cause birth anomalies in fetuses. "We are some 30 to 40 years into this marijuana epidemic and still have not seen evidence of pulmonary cancer in marijuana smokers," Morgan testified.Morgan scoffed at the theory that marijuana is a gateway leading to hard drugs. Statistics show that most marijuana smokers never go on to other drugs, he said. "There is no gateway; there is no credible gateway theory." Just as increased THC levels simply mean those who use cannabis would, in fact, have to use less to achieve the desired effect. No one in his or her right mind can argue that prohibition is not a hornet's nest of unmitigated corruption posing as a societal safeguard; it is a red herring, politically and otherwise.Until legislators comprehend that and move to end cannabis prohibition, in spite of prohibitionist sentiment, Canadians will continue to be systemically discriminated against and Canada will continue to be diminished in the process. Note: Re: Where there's smoke, there's disagreement, National Report, Aug. 3.Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)Author: Wayne PhillipsPublished: August 5, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Toronto StarWebsite: http://www.thestar.com/Contact: lettertoed thestar.com Related Articles & Web Site:Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmWhere There's Smoke, There's Disagreement http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13621.shtmlCanada: There's a Funny Smell in the Air http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13490.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #5 posted by Phasetheory on August 06, 2002 at 02:16:53 PT I can see why I can see why prohibitionist have a hard time listening to legalizers. They say gateway, we say proven not true. They say it's stronger now, we say that makes it safer, (need less of it), they say crime would rise, the reality is crime would fall, they say use would increase, facts show use would decrease...We've all been lied to for the past 70 years! Give the slower people some time to realize... but damn I hope they hurry up! [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on August 05, 2002 at 16:18:35 PT puff_tuff I wish I could do more Letters to the Editor then I do but I don't know how I could keep up. If there ever are exceptional letters please let me know. If you have any suggestions please let me know that too. I've thought and thought but don't have program ability. I'm stuck because I can't change anything because I don't know how. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by puff_tuff on August 05, 2002 at 16:08:07 PT FoM Nice to see that you post the occasional Letter to the Editor.Wayne Phillips has been very active in Canada writing to Editors, the Senate, Members of Parliament and online discussions.Another unsung hero in our efforts to educate the masses. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by The GCW on August 05, 2002 at 14:09:14 PT Walters... His answer was to go after "people who believe we should in some cases change laws, US CO: Column: West Takes On East In The Drug War http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1453/a09.html?397 & http://www.townhall.com/columnists/debrasaunders/ds20020729.shtml This one in Colorado. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Ethan Russo MD on August 05, 2002 at 13:55:42 PT: How Reasonable This column appears to be a breath of fresh air. Should the author have tried to publish this south of the 49th parallel, I dare say that he'd be pummeled as some radical anarchist threatening the fabric of civilization as we know it. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment