Pubdate: Thu, 22 May 2003
Source: Mission City Record (CN BC)
Copyright: 2003 The Mission City Record
Contact:  http://www.missioncityrecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1305
Author: Robert T. Rock

SOCIETY AND LAW SELDOM SEE EYE-TO-EYE

Editor, The Record:

I will agree that marijuana users are neither scum nor deviants.

No, they are just stupid for willingly putting 5,000 chemical compounds 
into their lungs and somehow convince themselves that it is good for them. 
But any comparisons to the local grow-ops to the honourable profession of 
"dirt farmers" have to be seen as more spin-doctoring than the provincial 
government has shown itself capable of lately.  A "dirt farmer" provides 
the basic necessity of life, food.  The local grow-ops only provide the 
means with which to hide from life.

Even with all the known health and societal problems associated with the 
use of marijuana, if someone wants to grow a few plants on the kitchen 
window for their own use I probably don't have a problem with that.

But what I don't support is any idea that somehow the local grow-ops are 
providing a service to our community. That somehow just because huge 
amounts of money are being brought into the community, or at least into the 
hands of a select few, that all the damage it causes is somehow not important.

I am not supportive of the current push by an aged lame duck prime minister 
to soften the penalties for possession of pot. I am against his plan to 
make simple possession a lesser crime in the eyes of the law. Society and 
the law seldom see eye-to-eye at the best of times.

I am against it because it makes the use of pot appear less harmful.

There is very little I like about the United States but I look across the 
border and see how they have dealt with grow-ops in Washington State with 
envy. Instead of allowing the courts to use their discretionary powers to 
let the dealers off, the government should be bringing in mandatory five 
year jail terms for first time grow-operators. And the time in jail should 
keep going up with repeated offences until the key is thrown away.

I know there are studies which say this is a bad idea. Perhaps, but they 
can't do any more harm while they are in jail. Like I said at the beginning 
of my letter, I don't think users are scum or deviants.

I didn't say that I am that charitable towards those who directly profit 
from the production and sale of B.C. bud.

Robert T. Rock Mission
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom