Pubdate: Thu, 20 Oct 2016
Source: Banner, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2016 The Orangeville Banner
Contact:  http://www.orangeville.com/orangeville-on/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2217
Author: Alex Mckechnie

YOU ONLY SEE DEMONS WHEN YOU'RE STONED

RE: Letter, Legal pot would unleash the devil and his demons, Oct.
6.

It is obviously necessary to bring attention to some misinformation in
the letter from Gordon Snell. First of all, devils and demons are only
visible when high, otherwise they do not exist. Secondly, marijuana
use was legalised in Colorado in 2012. The following excerpt is quoted
from reason.com.

"The most obvious thing that happens when a government stops punishing
people for certain marijuana-related activities-so obvious that it's
often overlooked-is that marijuana arrests and prosecutions drop
precipitously. Marijuana arrests in Colorado fell from 12,894 in 2012,
when voters approved legalization, to 7,004 in 2014, the first year of
legal recreational sales- a 46 per cent decrease. Marijuana charges
filed in Colorado courts fell 81 per cent between 2012 and 2015, from
10,340 to 1,954. Those dramatic changes saved thousands of people from
unjust punishment and channeled law enforcement resources toward
activities with a bigger public safety payoff."

I have seen people drink alcohol and become violent, but can honestly
say I have never seen a violent pot smoker. Pot smokers are more
inclined to laugh themselves to sleep. It would appear that Mr. Snell
needs to educate himself before putting pen to paper.

Alex Mckechnie
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MAP posted-by: Matt