Pubdate: Wed, 21 Jan 2004
Source: Barrie Advance, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2004 Metroland Printing, Publishing and Distributing
Contact:  http://www.simcoe.com/sc/barrie/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2192
Author: Matthew Hulett

MEDIA MISSES THE POINT IN POT BUSTS

Your paper recently printed, "Of course, the fact the grow operation
was busted at all points to the success of the joint approach of local
police forces in targeting street drugs."

Oh, really? I suppose the cops are on the verge of getting this whole
drug problem under control, eh? Please, spare me this spin-meister
idiocy. The cops are lucky if they touch five per cent of the
illicit-drug activity occurring. Hey, look at my country spending $100
billion per year at all levels of government targeting street drugs.
We sure are experiencing success too, with a nice methamphetamine
epidemic sweeping our nation. Dolts.

Your paper went on to print, "But it also shows that the media won't
wait until the smoke clears to light up to a burning news story."

It's a stupid news story; crops numbering over 50,000 plants occur in
my country's national forests every year, and most go undetected. The
only thing I see is a media committed to printing the most inane
ignorant drug-policy analysis they possibly can.

Every single major drug-policy study ever done has recommended
decriminalization, most legalization of marijuana. None of them
recommend police targeting street drugs for success.

Perhaps your staff needs to review the Le Dain Commission Report, then
perhaps you can editorialize intelligently.

Matthew Hulett

Brick, N.J.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin