Pubdate: Fri, 27 Apr 2001
Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)
Copyright: 2001 The Ottawa Citizen
Contact:  http://www.ottawacitizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326
Author: Dave Burkhart

MAKE IT LEGAL FOR ME TO BUY AND SMOKE MARIJUANA IN MY HOME

I will be 51 in June, the month that will mark my 34th year of full-time 
employment in Canada. I have dutifully paid my taxes each year. And for 22 
of those years I worked in defence of Canada as a member of the Royal 
Canadian Air Force and the Canadian Armed Forces.

Anne McLellan, I want to be able to smoke marijuana in the privacy of my 
own home. And I don't want to have to deal with criminals to get it. Nor do 
I want to go to all the trouble and expense of growing the stuff for my own 
use.

I want to be able to go to a local store, look through a reasonable variety 
of plants and purchase a few grams for my personal use once in a while, 
much as I would do if I wanted to purchase a case of beer or a bottle of wine.

I do not believe this is an unreasonable request in a free society. Please 
save the tired arguments about the dangers of marijuana for other 
less-informed people who may be more susceptible to propaganda.

I know marijuana may not be a healthy substance to ingest into my lungs, 
Ms. McLellan.

But what is healthy is that we maintain the right as free Canadians to make 
personal decisions and to choose those substances we may wish to use. And 
what is not healthy are laws restricting personal choice.

It is time in Canada to have a reasoned, open debate about marijuana.

It is time for you as Justice minister to take action toward permitting the 
legal use of ma-rijuana in Canada.

Dave Burkhart,

St. Albert, Alta.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom