Recently, as I watched the National News, I was flabbergasted to hear our Prime Minister, unashamedly, even light-heartedly describe how, in the past, his father, the then Prime Minister, saved his brother from criminal charges pertaining to the use of marijuana by “contacting some friends”, and “pulling a few strings”. In other words, through these manipulative uses of his power, he circumvented the law. He touts his father, as having accomplished a wonderful thing in behalf of his poor, innocent brother. What does this say about our country’s leader?
Does this attitude of being above the law bother anyone else besides me? In my opinion, this case is painfully reminiscent of the O.J. Simpson case wherein it was shown that if you have enough money and power, the law can quite easily be ignored.
Is our media so Liberally slanted that they do not even comment on the flaunting or this appalling injustice, let alone berate?
As ethically wrong as this travesty absolutely is, it appeared to me that our P.M. was presenting this case as one of the very shaky grounds on which to base his push for the legalization of marijuana. I gathered that his premise is, no one should be criminalized for using such a “harmless” drug.
Harmless??? Does anyone consider the human cost to countless individuals, both young and old, who are caught in a continuous cycle of drug use that often begins with marijuana as a “gateway” drug? (This means it leads to the use of much harder drugs). Marijuana dulls the mind and senses and creates a gradual, but real lack of caring about one’s life, family, and circumstances. Not to mention anxiety, panic, depression, immune suppression, personality and mood changes, and addictions that we are warned of in countless government websites? Does anyone care about the cost to society when our young people are caught in this trap of unreality at a younger and younger age?
Legalization of marijuana does not have a good track record. It has been shown to increase the availability of the drug and the acceptability of its use. Why do you think marijuana users are in favor of this legislation? Because it is an addictive substance and leads to the use of even more addictive substances!
Friends, let’s not just sit back complacently and watch this legislation happen! Let’s protect ourselves and our society from these negative consequences, and many more, (such as more impaired drivers), that will surely accompany such ill-advised legislation.
Sue Anderson-Athabasca County
