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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2016-12-28, Page 44 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, December 28, 2016 www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com Ilion Expositor PUBLISHED WEEKLY — EST. 1860 P.O. Box 69, 8 Main Street Seaforth Ontario NOK 1 WO phone: 519-527-0240 fax: 519-527-2858 www.seaforthhuronexpositor [p] POSTMEDIA NEIL CLIFFORD Advertising Director neil.clifford@sunmedia.ca SHAUN GREGORY Multimedia Journalist shaun.gregory@sunmedia.ca DIANNE MCGRATH Front Office seaforth.classifieds@sunmedia.ca NANCY DEGANS Media Sales Consultant ndegans@postmedia.com SUBSCRIPTION RATES 1 YEAR $50.00 (47.62+2.38 GST) 2 YEAR $95.00 (90.48+4.52 GST) SENIORS 60 WEEKS $50.00 (47.62+2.38 GST) 120 WEEKS $95.00 (90.48+4.52 GST) Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064683 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT P.O. Box 69 Seaforth ON NOK 1 WO For any non -deliveries or delivery concerns: phone: 519-527-0240 Advertising is accepted on condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error, advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell and may be withdrawn at any time. The Huron Expositor is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproduction purposes. Seaforth Huron Expositor is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent ethical organization established to deal with editorial concerns. For more information or to file a complaint go to www. mediacouncil.ca or call toll free 1-844-877-1163. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canadian Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities. Canaa'a Pot panel charts a smart way forward on legalization: Editorial eciding to legalize marijuana was the easy part for the Trudeau government. Sev- enty per cent of Canadians say they like the idea - in principle. It's all those tricky details of exactly how to do it that can trip you up. Now a panel of experts appointed by the govern- ment has recommended a way forward. It proposes a regime that would combine some decidedly liberal ele- ments - such as allowing 18-year-olds to buy pot - with more restrictive meas- ures - including a ban on most advertising. Taken together, it's a smart package. Setting the age for buying and consuming cannabis at 18 (or 19 if provinces want to keep it in line with their legal drinking age) will be the most controversial point. It runs counter to a recommendation from the Canadian Medical Associa- tion that the age limit be put at 21 to avoid damage to developing brains. And most parents would no doubt prefer that their 18 -year-old kids not become stoners (or binge -drinkers, for that matter). But setting the age limit at 18 isn't a recommendation that kids start that young. It's just a practical recognition that 18 to 20 is the prime age for experimenting with pot, and banning young people from getting it legally would be the best way to keep the neighbourhood dealer in business. After all, they have letter to the editor Dear Editor: We wish to thank the commu- nity for their participation in the St. Nick's Christmas Shopping Day for Children at St. Thomas' Anglican Church in Seaforth on December 3, 2016 and for your excellent press coverage of the event. The children's smiles and excitement are the best gifts of all! 200 children shopped for their families, 40 helpers from across our community assisted no trouble buying pot on the black market now. There's a legitimate con- cern that legalization will "normalize" the use of mari- juana, making it seem just like having a beer, so more kids will start using. It makes intuitive sense, but in fact what little evidence there is doesn't support that fear. In Colorado, which legal- ized recreational pot almost three years ago, a big survey found that use among teens hadn't gone up - and has actually dropped since 2009. And a new national U.S. survey finds that drug and alcohol use among middle- and high-school kids is down, even though more and more states are legalizing cannabis. The sky has not fallen. Still, the health concerns are real and the Liberal - appointed experts are right to recommend sensible pub- lic health measures to miti- gate the harm that can be caused, much as is done with alcohol. The panel proposes strict limits on advertising, with products sold in child -proof plain packaging and a prohi- bition on advertising to young people. Those condi- tions would be tightest for so-called edibles, including a ban on colourful packaging and candy products. Importantly, some of the revenue from taxing mari- juana would be directed towards public education and research on health effects. More money could and over 1200 gifts were availa- ble to choose from, hand- crafted, donated or purchased through the generosity of doz- ens of people! Thank you shoppers, volun- teers, silent auction supporters and gift givers - $3,000 was raised to be shared between the communities of Seaforth & Clinton to support children's programs and activities. Mark your calendars and plan to take advantage of free swimming for also usefully be earmarked for addiction services for young people, which are now scarce and expensive. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau seemed relatively relaxed about the issue when he discussed it with the Star's editorial board recently. He acknowledged the evidence of potential harm to young people, but added that "I have a sense the worst damage is in the 12, 13, 14 -year-old range." And he quite rightly said the government has to find "the maximal benefit in an actually enforceable sys- tem" - not set unrealistic limits for fear of looking too permissive. In other words, focus on what really works. Some of the panel's other recommendations are less obvious. For example, it would ban the sale of canna- bis products in locations where alcohol is sold. That would make it impossible for Ontario, for example, to have LCBO outlets also sell pot. While sales should not be restricted to provincial liquor stores, it should be an option - especially since Ottawa plans to leave many details of distribution up to individ- ual provinces. Another key concern is driving under the influence of cannabis. The experts are right to underscore the importance of determining exactly how to control that and developing reliable road -side screening systems. Above all, the government needs to move quickly to sort out this and many other thorny issues. The free-for-all now going on in the market- place in anticipation of the new rules is unacceptable. The faster Ottawa puts in place a framework for legali- zation, the better. kids at Vanastra Recreation Centre from 1:30-3:30 on the following days: December 28 & 30, January 2 & 5th. Watch for free public skating sessions dur- ing March break at both Sea - forth and Clinton arenas- dates and times to be announced -to be funded as well. A portion of the funds will go to support children's programs at both Seaforth and Clinton libraries. Watch for updates on Facebook, Twitter and community TV channels and newsletters. Thanks to all for making this awesome event possible in our community. On behalf of the church families of the Parish of the Holy Spirit -the Anglican Churches in Seaforth & Clinton - we wish you a very Merry Christmas and blessings in the coming New Year. St. Nick's Coordinators, Helen Southgate Old- field & Betty Burns