Pubdate: Wed, 25 Oct 2017 Source: Richmond News (CN BC) Copyright: 2017, Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc. Contact: http://www.richmond-news.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1244 Author: Jason Tarnow RICHMOND HAS BIGGER ISSUES THAN POT Dear Editor, Re: "This bud's for you?" Feature, Oct. 20. With money laundering being "uncovered" at our largest casino, a burgeoning birth tourism industry displacing tax-paying Canadians requiring a hospital bed and the expanding opiate (fentanyl) addiction crisis, this "Marijuana Legalization Concern Group" and the city councillors who support them (Mr. Au and Mr. McNulty), all need a reality check as to what the real issues are today within Richmond. Their list of demands to the federal government regarding cannabis legalization demonstrate a collective ignorance towards addiction, the negative effects prohibition has had on society, and the root causes of criminality. I cordially invite all members of the Marijuana Legalization Concern Group (and its supporters) to spend a morning at the Richmond Provincial Courthouse. It is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m, Monday to Friday. Inside the courthouse, you'll see first-hand what substances are actually causing harm to our community. You'll quickly learn that marijuana is not one of them. Jason Tarnow Richmond - --- MAP posted-by: Matt