Stoned Age attempts
to enlighten Stone Age

Dear Editor:

1 am writing in response to
Earl Banks’ letter “Muddled on
Manjuana” (Nov. 27 News).

Mr. Banks, I suggesr that
you and other “conservatives”
iook again at the issues behind
marijuana laws. Your views are
from the Stone Age, let me
enlighten you on the “Stoned
Age.”

In 1991 47,000 Canadians
were charged with simple pos-
session of marijuana. Many of
these people are young, first-
time offenders who face crimi-
nal records.

Is it “just” for someone
who is caught with recreation-
al marijuana to have a criminal
record that will constrict him
for the rest of his life? This life-
long sentence will limit future
employment opportunities and
restrict his freedom to travel to
the United States.

By legalizing and conwol-
ling marijuana in similar ways
as tobacco there would not be
a market for the dealer.

The drug’s quality could be
controlled, and the Jaws
regarding usage could be
stncdy enforced. How often
do you see people growing and
selling tobacco on the street
corners?

Smoke houses, similar to
Amsterdam's, could be set up
for: private consumption and
distribution. Thus keeping it

out of the sight of the under-
aged, much like alcohol.

Growing pot in B.C. was a
$100 million dollar industry in
the 1980s and probably
exceeds this today.

Why not regulate — it?
Enforce quality control and tax
the profits.

Currently these growers are
earning millions of dollars tax

ee.

The uses of hemp (the
fibres derived from stalks) are
nearly unlimited.

One acre of hemp produces
enough paper to replace 4.1
acres of trees.

We could save the millions
of dollars wasted on the “War
on Drugs” and court fees try-
ing to pin petty possession
charges on people and divert
these funds into useful things
such as the effects of marijuana
on cancer or glaucoma.

Marijuana is not the prob-
lem. Alcoholism is the prob-
lem. Before you condemn pot-
smokers, ict’s look at who does
the real damage to Canadian
society:

@ over 3,400 admissions to
ions Gate Hospital were

reported to have alcohol prob-

lems;

@ 30% of domestic homicides

involve alcohol;

@ 50% of al! inmates in B.C.

prisons are there for alcohol-

related crimes;

News reader doubts Doug

Dear Editor:

There are times when I
agree with Doug Collins and
mes when 1 do not. 1 do
agree, however, with his free-
dom of expression even when
his opinion is directly opposed
to my own. I do have to say

though, that after reading your
excerpt from Doug’s book, |

have to conclude the book's

contents are grossly exaggerat-
ed. I wonder if he can take it as
well as dish it out?

RC. Fortune

North Vancouver

Vertical Blinds
50% off

receive a

Free Valance
with every vertical blind order

ORDER BEFORE DEC. 31/96

(this promotion valid on in-coming or

pies

B 1990 saw $2 billion of alco-
hol-related damage in B.C.;

All this, nor to mention
drinking and driving related
stats,

In my experiences 1 would
much rather see a group of
young men standing around
smoking pot than a group of
young men drinking a bottle of
hard liquor.

I think most people will
agree the pot smokers are
harmless unless you approach
them laden with “munchie”
junk food, but the group of
young men standing around
drinking liquor is a ime bomb
waiting to explode.

Chris Sostad
dcsostad@be.sympatico.ca

How are
we doing?

When we fall short of your
expectation, please tell us. When a
newspaper story does not seem to
reflect fairly what was said, let our
editors know, When we are unable
to solve your complaint, we
encourage you to submit it to the:
B.C. Press Council

Box 5414

Victoria, B.C. VBR 6S4

Tel: (604) 595-2571

Fax: (604) 595-2573

The B.C. Press Council was created in
1983 as an independent review board
0 protect tie public from press
inaccuracy or unfairness aod 10

promcae quality

journalism.

Venture Pacific

GROUP Of COMPANIES J

f VEHICLE LEASING

* NEW & USED © CARS & TRUCKS
© ALL MAKES

WE JUST. MAY. -
BE THE MOST. ©
comperstive:. S
V. VEHICLE LEASING,
‘COMPANY IN B.C:

‘97 FORD EXPEDITION

“Eddie Bauer Edition*
beather,

STEN recta Terie th sECORM ING
cas 5 =

Saity Doug needed

Dear Editer:

The North Shore News without Doug Collins column
is like an ege without salt. I don’t agree with everything he
says but at ‘least he can make you think.

Doug Bullock
North Vancouver

MAILBOX POLICY

LETTERS to the editor
must be legible (preferabiy
typewritten) and includ:
your name, fall address
and telephone nuniber.

" STORE CLOSED.
“UNTIL FRIDAY DEC. 6/96
TO MARK DOWN PRICES

THE REASON FOR THE SALE.

After 23 years in the same location, first as Rick’s Furnitureiand
and for the last 10 years, simply Furnitureland, | have decided to
close the store. Our lease expires and this difficult decision had

to be made.
| wish to thank all my loyal customers and

friends for your

support over the last decade. | hope | brought integrity and a

sense of dignity and fair play to all of you.

The store is closed now, so | can mark down every piece of
inventory. More than 800,000 dollars of quality home
furnishings from such famous names as Stylus, Stylecraft, Sealy,

Hamilton & Spill, Braman, King Koil and
manufacturers, will be sold at liquidation sale
will be held back. Everything must go!

numerous fine
prices. Nothing

SALE BEGINS FRIDAY
DECEMBER 6" AT 9:00am