Pubdate: Thu, 15 Feb 2007 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2007 The Province Contact: http://www.canada.com/theprovince/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Author: Penny Paul Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) LEGALIZE AND TAX IT With 17,500 grow-ops in B.C., the time has come to legalize marijuana. The only thing bad about marijuana is that it is illegal, and to buy it, young and old alike often have to be in touch with criminals. This is akin to the days of alcohol prohibition. Why should organized criminals reap the profits of marijuana production and sales? Cut them out of it. Since so many either smoke or have smoked marijuana, let's legalize it, tax it and control it. Who is behind the stubborn refusal to see the reality? I suspect it is the U.S. I hope grow-ops become as big a cash crop there as they are here, and then U.S. authorities may see things differently. Penny Paul, Vancouver - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman