Pubdate: Fri, 04 Jun 2010 Source: Cowichan Valley Citizen (CN BC) Copyright: 2010 Cowichan Valley Citizen Contact: http://www.canada.com/cowichanvalleycitizen/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4349 Author: G. Manners LEGALIZING MARIJUANA WILL SOLVE PROBLEMS If our Premier needs $1.6 billion, to sort out "his" fiscal problems; with the HST maneuvre, he needs to begin a sure fire money maker, not saddle the public with his fantasies! Legalize marijuana, it has an amazing affinity to mankind, ie, the stems can be used for clothing or paper, the leaf a most useful drug in its many ways. Taxes off such an economy would be enormous, also it is a labour-intensive shrub. The police then would be free to investigate real crime, other drugs of a carcinogenous nature, etc. I do believe we are following wrongly, the USA federal pattern, of mayhem. The Dutch, also Oregon, have proven without a doubt, that this shrub is of a benefit to society, rather than a menace. At this time, California is studying the humongous costs of "policing pot." There is a great need for common sense to be applied, the sooner the better. G. Manners, Cowichan Bay - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom