Dear Editor:
Re: “This Bud’s for you?” Feature, Oct. 20; “City council sticks by anti-pot position,” News, Oct. 25.
With respect to your recent articles about marijuana legalization, I have both an opinion and a offer to Mayor Brodie and Richmond city councillors.
I am definitely in agreement with Richmond News letter writers of Oct. 25 who expressed dismay at coun-cil’s recent unanimous decision to oppose cannabis legalization.
Marijuana as a gateway drug has been thoroughly debunked in a number of studies, although by their logic we should certainly include alcoholic beverages that are far more dangerous substances when consumed to excess.
After reading your newspaper’s most recent story on our elected officials wanting to ban the sale and pro-duction of cannabis in Richmond, I was left wondering what they’ve been smoking if they believe pot is any-where near as destructive as booze and that Vancouver has pot shops every “few steps” as Coun. Derek Dang suggests?
It is beyond all reason how banning the retail sale of cannabis from Richmond and maintaining its prohibi-tion somehow makes us all safer, especially considering all the other serious issues facing our Lulu Island community.
In light of the opioid epidemic, I simply can’t understand why they wouldn’t be more open minded in terms of trying something new, versus preaching a “just say no” message and engaging in fear mongering remi-niscent of reefer madness from a century ago.
By all means continue to research cannabis and its short and long-term effects along with how its medici-nal properties might help alleviate a long list of health problems, from chronic pain to mental illness, before you resort to emotional scare tactics and the status quo.
Barry “BEAR” Goulden
Richmond
