Pubdate: Sun, 24 Aug 2014 Source: Winnipeg Sun (CN MB) Copyright: 2014 Lloyd Atkins Contact: http://www.winnipegsun.com/letter-to-editor Website: http://www.winnipegsun.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/503 Author: Lloyd Atkins Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor. POT SIDESHOW Marijuana: Be prepared for smoke and mirrors. Democracy is all about listening to the people. Justin Trudeau has heard what the majority of Canadians are saying about legalizing marijuana and is ready to act accordingly. Stephen Harper only listens to his conservative base, a dwindling minority of Canadians, and is determined to ignore reality in a crass attempt to garner campaign contributions. Trudeau wants to find a pragmatic solution for a modern-day problem. Harper wants to maintain an outdated unworkable punitive policy for partisan politics. Trudeau's plan will generate government revenue, introduce quality control standards and undermine organized crime. Harper's obstinate stand abets the underground drug economy, perpetuates the lack of product standards and guarantees organized crime's cash flow. In a desperate attempt to obscure and distort Trudeau's rational policy on marijuana, Harper has once again reached into the Conservatives' tickle trunk of dirty tricks an! d pulled out their smoke screen generators and curved carnival mirrors. Please don't be taken in by their tawdry sideshow. Lloyd Atkins (The issue isn't as clear cut as you would lead people to believe.) - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D