Pubdate: Thu, 13 May 2004 Source: Mirror (CN QU) Copyright: 2004 Communications Gratte-Ciel Ltee Contact: http://www.montrealmirror.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/267 Author: William B. Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04.n684.a02.html PERSECUTION FOR POTHEADS Regarding "Busted for pot" [Letters, May 6]: I've had this same problem many times. But, thankfully, I've never been charged. Police harassment usually comes on insistence from officers' superiors, and there is ample evidence for this. Only a small minority of police bully (these people generally do have deep-seated psychological issues), and yes, they actually break the law while enforcing it. In the case of your search, if you're charged, fight it and you'll probably win because of this. To all you potheads out there: just remember, never consent to anything - especially when it's unjust. The police want marijuana to stay illegal because they'll lose funding if it's legalized (less crime, fewer officers different departments). Tell them and your local MP that you don't want to be oppressed anymore. And for all those who don't think it's oppression, ask your grandparents about prohibition of alcohol and all the gangster-related deaths that disappeared with its legality. I'm sick to death of fighting for the right to enjoy something that isn't a poison like tobacco or alcohol. Tell the RCMP to stop lying to us; they do it so much and it makes me ill. William B. Kitchener, Ontario - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin