LETTER: ‘Write Direction’ got it wrong on Canada and cannabis

DEAR News Of The Area,

I would like to respond to John Blackbourn regarding his ‘candid view on Canada and cannabis’ (NOTA, 14/7/26).

Hey mate.

How long did you spend in Canada?

Did you get past the tourist spots?

There are 41 million of us, how many did you talk to?

Most of us are on the other side of the road.

I am a fourth-generation Canadian. Old, white engineer. Was in Nambucca Heads for two weeks. Not my first time.

I have visited Australia 10 times over the last 20 years. Totalling two years of my life. 55,000 km on rural roads in a beat-up Toyota campervan. Across the Nullabor twice.

I don’t just watch Australians living their lives. I get out and talk ‘with’ them. So, I can get past presuming and imagining, to knowing them a bit. Mostly great people.

You wondered about driving a vehicle among people who might be “under the influence.” Try driving the winding narrow potholed roads in The Range with double-trailered cow trucks overtaking on blind curves.Twice yesterday near Woodenbong, QLD. Tolerated? But I know you all ain’t like that.

I take 10 different prescription medications. With head-influencing side effects. ‘Scripts’ are way more serious than marijuana.

I can’t afford to even ‘walk into’ any of The Fairmont Hotels. So can’t ‘judge’ the dopey lady you saw. Who knows? Maybe she had MS? Or Parkinsons? Australian even? Did you offer to help her?

Yes, there are illegal hard drugs in Canada. We wrestle with it.

You have ugly hard drugs on the street in Australia, too.

You said: “this issue is now causing public unrest in much of Canada.”

Inaccurate! Overblown.

The notion that marijuana is linked to hard drugs is a fairy tale.

Come again. Go beyond the moneyed fringe. Try talking with more than just a selected few next time.

Regards,

Brian Blackwell,

Vancouver, BC, Canada.