Dear Editor:
Kudos to Centre Wellington councillor Kirk McElwain for stating the obvious – “the horse is out of the barn”- in regard to legalized marijuana. The federal government has decided that it is not the killer drug, as depicted in Reefer Madness, an anti-marijuana propaganda film. Sadly he was the only councillor who advocated local access to a legal product.
OPP Inspector Scott Lawson said he is concerned about “laced” drugs in the community, yet council’s decision suggests members of the community would be better served to buy their pot from the local fentanyl dealer, further strengthening the criminal underground.
Clearly this discussion leading up to the vote, was a discussion on the morality of legalizing marijuana, rather than reacting effectively to the law of the land.
Marijuana has been part of popular culture in North America for the last 100 years. Even moreso amongst the arts and aesthetics communities.
The Le Dain Report on non-medical use of drugs, commissioned by the federal government in 1971, suggested total legalization of marijuana. Fifty years later we still have propagators of the Reefer Madness mentality.
I am not advocating marijuana use, but the federal government says that everyone of age should have legal access to a clean product. If I wanted some, why should I have to travel 20 miles to get it? After all of these years, I am shocked at the amount of ignorance and misinformation that still persists in regard to this much villainized plant.
David Toccalino,
Fergus