Wednesday
March 14, 2001
Decriminalizing marijuana
NOTE: This letter was emailed in capital letters
IN RESPONSE TO NAGHMEH'S DISAPPOINTMENT REGARDING THE COVER
PICTURE OF A MAN SMOKING MARIJUANA, I LIKE TO MAKE FEW POINTS: FIRST
OF ALL EVERY PICTURE OR ARTICLE IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BENEFIT THIS SITE. OTHERWISE
WE WOULD HAVE A VERY BIASED PUBLICATION ONLINE AND THIS WILL LEAD TO LESS
READERS. OPEN AND FREE JOURNALISM WILL HELP ALL OF US TO ACHIEVE MORE INFORMATION
AND KNOWLEDGE.
HERE IN CANADA CANNABIS IS NOT REALLY CONSIDERED A DRUG ANYMORE BUT
A MEDICINE. IN THE LAST SURVEY HERE 73% FAVORED LEGALIZATION AND EVEN MORE
FAVORED DECRIMINALIZATION, AND IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL THIS BECOMES
LAW.
IT HAS ALREADY BEEN A FEW YEARS THAT THE CANADIAN HEALTH SYSTEM "LEGALLY"
PRESCRIBES THE USE OF MARIJUANA TO PATIENTS WHO CARRY DISEASES SUCH AS
AIDS, CANCER, MS AND.... USE OF MARIJUANA HELPS THESE PATIENTS TO EASE
THEIR PAIN. IT GIVES THEM MORE APPETITE AND HOPE.
THIS DOES NOT SUGGEST THAT USE OF MARIJUANA IS PROMOTED. NOR SHOULD
THE USE OF TOBACCO OR ALCOHOL OR EVEN COCA COLA BE PROMOTED. BUT LOOK AROUND
YOU. HOW MUCH ADVERTISING DO YOU SEE REGARDING TOBACCO OR ALCOHOL?
AGAIN, HERE IN CANADA STATISTICS SHOW THAT APPROXIMATELY 35,000 PEOPLE
DIE EACH YEAR FROM TOBACCO-RELATED DISEASES AND 24,000 DIE EACH YEAR FROM
ALCOHOL-RELATED DISEASES AND NO ONE DIES FROM USE OF MARIJUANA IF IT IS
USED RECREATIONALLY.
AGAIN THIS DOES NOT SUGGEST THE USE OF MARIJUANA TO ANYONE. I AM SURE
THE NUMBERS ARE MUCH HIGHER IN THE U.S DUE TO A LARGER POPULATION. SO THE
REAL DRUG IS OUT THERE AND EVERYWHERE AMONG US. EVEN IN FAMILY GATHERINGS
AND OTHER EVENTS, ADULTS SMOKE AND KIDS BECOME INNOCENT 2ND HAND SMOKERS.
TO ME THIS IS BY FAR WORSE THAN A PICTURE YOU SEE ON THIS SITE.
IN A TIME THAT DRUGS ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE AND VERY ACCESSIBLE, ESPECIALLY
TO OUR KIDS IN SCHOOLS, IT IS THE PARENTS' RESPONSIBILITY TO DISCUSS THE
SUBJECT WITH AN OPEN MIND. I ASSURE YOU THAT KIDS WITH CLOSED-MINDED PARENTS
WILL TAKE THE ISSUE ELSEWHERE.
LET'S BRINGS THESE ISSUES ON THE SURFACE AND DEAL WITH REALITIES INSTEAD
OF AVOIDING THEM. AND BELIEVE ME, YOU WILL BE SURPRISED HOW MUCH WE CAN
LEARN FROM OUR KIDS.
Hamid Ageorlo
Toronto
Links
