Editor:
The purpose of legalizing marijuana is neither to promote its use, nor proclaim it harmless, but rather to recognize that it in common with other toxic substances that are widely consumed (cf. alcohol, nicotine), should be treated as a health issue, not a criminal one.
Attempts to prohibit such products have historically been notable failures.
Legalization will stop a huge flow of income to criminal enterprises, take great pressure off our beleaguered legal systems (police, courts, prisons), help ensure that what is being sold is actually marijuana (not adulterated with some substance designed to migrate the user into hard drugs), and prevent many young people (trying out their admittedly unformed wings) from being branded as criminals before they have much of a chance at life.
Doug Dyment
Gibsons
