Another recurring topic on the letters page is legalizing marijuana.
Last week we carried a passionate letter from a woman who said that
"drugs stole my brother's life and dignity [leaving him with] HIV/AIDS
and serious nerve damage." She blamed pot for being the gateway drug
that led to his other drug-related problems. That statement did not
sit well with many other readers.
"On behalf or the millions of Canadians who have smoked pot, it must
be noted that at least 99.9% of us don't wind up as junkies, and have
never used needles, except when given inoculations or blood tests,"
wrote Barry Samuels. "The one and only problem with marijuana is that
it remains illegal, despite its beneficial medical uses and relative
harmlessness."
"Numerous studies prove conclusively that marijuana is not a gateway
drug, since the vast majority of marijuana users do not use hard
drugs," added George Kosinski. "If drug policy in the United States
and Canada were based on fact, and drug education were based on the
actual effects of drugs rather than the ideology of drug prohibition,
perhaps your letter-writer's brother would have been wise enough to
restrict himself to marijuana."
We also heard from a handful of people who rely on marijuana to treat
their medical conditions.
"I am a retired law enforcement officer, disabled from chronic,
progressive multiple sclerosis and an excruciating pain in my face,"
wrote Alison Myrden. "As of October, 2007, 2,261 people in Canada
carry a licence for cannabis, the so-called 'gateway drug.' I can tell
you that all cannabis consumers should take offence to this letter.
Doctors gave me cocaine and heroin for the pain I live with, but the
drug that helped me most was cannabis sativa. Now, does that not blow
this 'gateway theory' out of the water?" - Earlier this month I
offered letter writers 10 tips on how to improve their chances of
publication. One was to not send the same letter to multiple
publications, as we all desire exclusivity. Here's proof that readers
also value that attribute.
