Pubdate: Sun, 22 Jul 2007
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 Times Colonist
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Solveig K. Nordwall
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

MARIJUANA REFORM BLOCKED BY IDEOLOGY

The dismal failure of the decades-old, expensive, utterly useless war 
on drugs has been clearly highlighted in uncountable studies, reports 
and recommendations.

The primary reason more realistic laws and policies have not been 
implemented is that drugs of any kind (except the legal drugs of 
alcohol and tobacco, despite their devastating effect on health and 
safety) so offend the morality of the more conservative segment of 
the population that any talk of legalization raises fierce hackles and fury.

Pragmatic arguments and proof of the ineffectiveness of current 
policies will not sway those who see any drug as a vice, a sin and 
proof of moral debasement. Unfortunately, many of our lawmakers and 
politicians are from that conservative element and vigorously oppose 
any changes that would ease the laws on marijuana.

While on a visit to my home country, Norway, a prominent politician 
had this to say: "If alcohol and marijuana had been introduced into 
society at the same time, there is no doubt which of them would have 
been declared illegal."

Solveig K. Nordwall,

View Royal.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman