Pubdate: Sat, 11 Sep 2004
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC) 
Copyright: 2004 The Vancouver Sun
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Lesley Lawson
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04.n1280.a06.html

READERS THINK THERE ARE WORSE CRIMES THAN SELLING A BIT OF POT

Did anyone else notice the hypocrisy portrayed on the front page of
Friday's The Sun?

While Vancouver police officers were closing down a small marijuana
coffee shop amidst a fair amount of community disagreement, I wonder
what the organized crime guys were up to.

Celebrating, I would imagine. After all, the little Da Kline coffee
shop was their biggest competitor. Keeping soft drugs out of the
coffee shops and on the street is the bread and butter of organized
crime.

I've been to Amsterdam and was elated to find a society where I wasn't
viewed as a criminal. We were two young women visiting a foreign
country, and we much preferred the gentle ambience of a coffee shop as
opposed to any bar or nightclub. We felt safe, and thoroughly enjoyed
meeting friendly, non-violent, non- alcohol fuelled people from all
over the world, and all walks of life, over a great cup of coffee and
a joint.

When will this country grow up?

Lesley Lawson

Langley
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin