Pubdate: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON) Copyright: 2010 The Ottawa Citizen Contact: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/letters.html Website: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326 Author: Russell Barth NO JUSTICE FOR POT USERS Re: A ghastly reminder of our great moral progress, Aug. 7 Columnist Dan Gardner writes that "In colonial Massachusetts -- a mere 400 years ago -- telling a lie, criticizing the governor, failing to attend church, or courting a girl without her parents' permission were crimes punishable by whipping." In modern day Canada, simple possession of a medicinal flower can get you fined and slapped with a permanent criminal record. Grow the plant, you could go to jail. Either one could ruin any chances you have of travel, or advancing in your employment. Either one could have your kids taken away, cause you to become homeless, and maybe even die if you are not healthy enough to withstand such a punishment. But that is perfectly reasonable, because pot is illegal and we should all obey our government like they do in Afghanistan. We have not advanced much in 10,000 years, we mad apes. A third of Canadians still think it is perfectly reasonable to put people in a stinking jail to eat lousy food and be exposed to random acts of violence and drugs, all for the monumental crime of growing some pot plants. One of those Canadians is the prime minister, which is why he plans to build 12 new jails, especially for pot users and growers. I suppose the stocks would be unconstitutional, but rotting in a prison for a victimless crime is justice. Russell Barth, Nepean Educators for Sensible Drug Policy - --- MAP posted-by: Matt