THE MEANING OF THE POPPY: RED WHITE & MEDICINAL

Every year we are expected -- nay, pressured -- into donning plastic
poppies on our lapels to commemorate the soldiers of today and
yesterday who fought for our freedoms.

But at the same time, we are not allowed to grow actual poppies in our
yard, for medicinal purposes. Also, the illegality of the poppy makes
it a very lucrative crop for our enemies who strive daily to send our
soldiers home from Afghanistan to us in pieces and in boxes.

The money our enemies make from growing real poppies hurts our
soldiers, and we are supposed to wear fake poppies to honour them. The
whole thing is beyond absurd. Is this the "freedom" we are spreading
to the rest of the world?

Russell Barth, federally licenced medical marijuana user, Nepean, Ont.