Pubdate: Mon, 14 Oct 2002 Source: Winnipeg Sun (CN MB) Copyright: 2002 Canoe Limited Partnership Contact: http://www.fyiwinnipeg.com/winsun.shtml Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/503 Author: Malcolm G. Ratcliffe Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor. Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1900/a06.html THE DOPE ON DOPE Re: The Oct. 11 letter, Those dopes in Ottawa. More Canadians would benefit by saying "know" to drugs. Then they'd know that the only true "gateway" drugs, are alcohol and tobacco. They'd also know that no one has ever died from marijuana inhalation. There is also no evidence to connect marijuana to any debilitating human illness -- instead, contrary anecdotal and clinical data suggests marijuana is better at controlling various human aliments than conventional medical intervention. As for legal marijuana being a tax windfall, would it not make more sense to collect the taxes than to leave the money in the hands of organized criminals? Let's face it, after 70 years of marijuana prohibition pigheadedness, it is still in vogue today. The people have spoken and they're still tokin'. Malcolm G. Ratcliffe Winnipeg (The marijuana debate will go on and on and ...) - --- MAP posted-by: Alex