Pubdate: Thu, 22 Aug 2013 Source: Globe and Mail (Canada) Copyright: 2013 The Globe and Mail Company Contact: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168 Author: Russell Barth HALF-BAKED IDEA The Canadian Association Of Police Chiefs suggests handing out tickets for marijuana users instead of laying charges (Ease Pot Penalties, Police Urge - Aug. 21). Here's a better idea: Leave marijuana users alone and go do some real police work. Seriously, women are being sexually assaulted and going missing, kids are living with monstrous villains, people are sick on the street because prohibition has made the cities awash with smack and meth and crack, human trafficking abounds, corporate criminals are destroying the planet and evading taxes, and police walk around wasting time handing out marijuana fines, charges and warnings. On behalf of every pot user in Canada, I hereby reject your offer to lengthen our leash. We want equality with coffee drinkers, and we will not settle until we have it. Russell Barth, federally licensed medical marijuana user, Ottawa - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom