Pubdate: Fri, 14 Jun 2002
Source: Chilliwack Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2002 Chilliwack Times
Contact:  http://www.chilliwacktimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1357
Author: Norm Siefken
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1093/a01.html

WEED WAR MONEY BETTER SPENT

Editor:

Re: Cops declare war on weed

I was disappointed to read that Mayor Hames is throwing another $320,000 
into that bottomless money pit called the war on pot. Sadly, this is only 
the tip of the financial iceberg.

The new Green Team will generate hundreds of new cases, and taxpayers will 
get stuck with the tab for prosecuting the pot gardeners in our 
overburdened courts. Many growers are on welfare, so the taxpayers will pay 
the defence costs as well. When jail time is ordered the cost to taxpayers 
is about $70,000 per year to incarcerate each marijuana inmate. The true 
cost of Hames' decision is many millions of scarce public dollars being 
wasted for another futile attempt to suppress B.C.'s cannabis culture. This 
one won't succeed either.

Where did our government learn to set priorities? Wake up Mayor Hames, 80 
per cent of B.C. wants decriminalization. Let's overgrow the government.

NORM SIEFKEN

Chilliwack
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MAP posted-by: Ariel