Pubdate: Thu, 22 Nov 2001
Source: Burnaby Now, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2001 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.burnabynow.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1592
Author: Adam Wiggins
Referenced:  http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n1926/a11.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

WHERE IS THE THEFT?

Editor:

The author of the Nov 15 opinion piece "Growing Pot Costs Taxpayers"
states: "It is estimated that 80 per cent of all property crimes are
drug-related as addicts must steal to feed their drug habit..."

I would like to hear a source for this estimate, as I highly doubt it
is based on anything but wild speculation. Assuming, however, that
this is a factual claim, the answer is a simple one: marijuana, if
legalized, will be 1/10th the cost of the current street price.

Even citizens with a heavy pot habit will find themselves able to keep
themselves supplied with far less expenditure; therefore, we can
expect these supposed drug-related burglaries to stop almost
completely. In other words, Mr. McCarthy is telling us that legalizing
pot will reduce burglary by 80 per cent. Now that's a glowing
endorsement if I've ever heard one.

Adam Wiggins Director, Neoteric, http://www.neoteric.nu Pasadena,
CA
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake