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LETTER: Where is your evidence?

Letter goes into detail about the legalization of marijuana and its negative connotations
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I am writing a response to the letter that Mr. Frank Wirrell wrote regarding the government needing a moral compass.

Your letter goes into detail about the legalization of marijuana and its negative connotations, without offering much in the way of evidence. Then it hastily concludes that Justin Trudeau is a terrible prime minister and the government is failing to show leadership and is only in it for personal finances.

Many of the statements you make are based upon assumptions that are not necessarily true. People today are taught about the negative effects marijuana has on the body, and many people avoid marijuana for that reason. Legalization of marijuana won’t change its effects on the body and, subsequently, more people won’t be compelled to use it.

Many people will also avoid breaking the law now that they are legally allowed to smoke marijuana. Accessibility to this drug means that people who before had to choose between breaking the law and not getting their drugs can now choose both, even if legal marijuana is taxed. A slight increase in price will be worth the legality of the drugs in many people’s eyes.

The tobacco industry is much larger than the marijuana industry, and thus comparing their tax earnings with regards to the costs associated with them is not proper. There are also many other variables to consider, such as the products associated with each drug that are taxed, the costs that are attached to each drug, and the rates at which they are taxed.

The legalization of marijuana will not equate to a sudden and dramatic increase in users of this drug. Many people have been using marijuana before it was made legal, and they have been benefiting from health care beforehand as well.

With the legalization of marijuana, these people will now be paying taxes on the drugs they buy, and this will provide more money for the medical system to utilize on these, and many other healthcare patients.

The legalization of marijuana was intended to restrict the actions of drug dealers, and now that people have access to legal marijuana they have no need to put themselves at risk by involving themselves illegally with drug dealers. They no longer have to worry about the police or whoever they will meet in the evening alleys downtown as they go to buy marijuana.

Most people tend to avoid danger and will make decisions based on this tendency, and this will lead to drug dealers losing profit and this being restricted by the market.

Adam Cohen

Mission