BACK CHAT

Calls by four former mayors of Vancouver to end the prohibition
against marijuana flooded us with online comments and letters to the
editor. The debate around legalizing pot is alive and well in B.C.
and only going to get louder, we predict. Join the conversation at:
theprovince.com/opinion

GLAD THEY SPOKE UP

I'm so glad to hear previously elected, educated and respected
individuals finally, publicly, truthfully and eloquently state the facts.

POT SHOULD BE TESTED

It should go through the same testing, approval and restricted access
via the prescription model that every other drug goes through.

WHY GIVE THIS 'RIGHT?'

You don't have the right to grow your own opium; why should you have
the right to grow your own dope?

SAFER THAN ALCOHOL

Marijuana is safer to use than alcohol.

POT USERS ARE NUTS

Excuse me if I suspect that people who regularly ingest psychotropic
hallucinogens procured by paying off gangsters are a poor judge of
who is and is not in their right mind.

NO 'VICE FROM HELL'

With so many people I know using marijuana - all nice people with
upstanding characters in good professions - it's confounding that
it's been treated like some vice from hell. It's time to move forward
and deregulate it.

DON'T LEGISLATE MORALS

There is an old saying that you can't legislate morality and in this
case that is true. In this case I have to agree with them, the law is
doing more harm than good. It is time to change it.

WAR ON DRUGS IS LOST

It is time we moved into the 21st century. The so-called war on drugs is lost.

THEY'RE NOT CROOKS

Some people like to relax after a long day with a couple cold beers,
others like to pass a joint with friends, others go for a run or go
shopping or whatever. The point is people shouldn't be labelled
criminals for choosing a safer alternative to alcohol.

WINE IS FINE

I like my shiraz. No one was killed in a wine-rip.

NOT REALLY NEEDED

Sure, decriminalize it. People shouldn't go to jail for smoking it or
growing it. But honestly, would you die without it?

U.S. WON'T ALLOW IT

I agree with the mayors. Legalization would curb the illegal trade.
The problem is that the U.S. will never allow it.