Pubdate: Wed, 04 Jun 2003 Source: Peterborough This Week (CN ON) Copyright: 2003 Peterborough This Week Contact: http://www.peterboroughthisweek.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1794 Author: Angela Packer NICER WORLD IS POT'S RESULT To the editor: I would like to take this opportunity to respond to J.R. Baldwin (Ottawa's consideration of pot decriminalization a waste of taxpayers' dollars, May, 16, 2003) who believes even the contemplation of the legalization of marijuana is a waste of taxpayers' time and money. Contrary to popular belief, pot smokers (and I know many) are not all useless, free-loading hippies. Some are valued members of society such as doctors, lawyers, teachers, and dare I say it, police officers. What if Twiggy had "danced with Mary Jane." Maybe it would have increased her appetite and therefore stopped her grotesque mark from being made on society's idea of beauty. Let's look at Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini. Would they have been nicer people if they had "rocked the gange." Some of the most beautiful melodies were written and performed while under the influence. Marijuana has been attributed to the opening of the mind,and many of its users claim to "see the world as a more beautiful place." Don't we need more of that? Angela Packer Peterborough - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens