Legalize, regulate marijuana

Re: Put a lid on pot, Letters, April 17

Minister of Health Rona Ambrose wrote, “We continue to oppose Justin Trudeau’s deeply irresponsible scheme to make it easier for our children to access marijuana by selling it in stores, just like cigarettes.”

There is hardly a single shred of truth in that statement.

The Liberal government would control and regulate such transactions. Sale of marijuana to minors would be strictly prohibited. The proposed policy would provide better protection for our children. The Tories are resorting to spreading misinformation. Is this a sign of desperation?

LAWRENCE WOO

Liberal party candidate for Richmond Centre

Cigarettes, and now alcohol, two perfectly legal products considered extremely dangerous to health, are sold in grocery stores. Laws disallow underage customers from purchasing these products.

Marijuana is available from dealers on the street and outside schools. Drug gangs target youth and fight for market share. Surrey has gang shootings almost daily. We do not see gang wars over alcohol and cigarettes. Legalizing pot and regulating it would diminish the ability of gangs to make a living off the sale of pot and may result in some reduction of gang violence.

A determined underage person can obtain illegal substances. You are not going to ever end that. The illegal drug trade frightens us. Making pot legal and regulated, like alcohol and cigarettes, may help us feel less afraid. Our neighbours to the south have come to accept this reality. Their world has not spun off its axis. It is time we joined them.

RON MOODLEY

Surrey