Pubdate: Sat, 05 Mar 2005 Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON) Copyright: 2005 The Ottawa Citizen Contact: http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326 Author: Wendy Little and Eric Nash BAD DRUG LAWS COST POLICE THEIR LIVES As legal Canadian cannabis growers, we want to extend our heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the families, friends, community and all those associated with the killed officers from Mayerthorpe and Whitecourt, Alberta. To avoid further injury to the law-enforcement community and the public, we hope that our Liberal government will address these issues by regulating and monitoring this huge industry. Unfortunately, the current decriminalization bill allows organized crime to continue reaping profits while dedicated officers lose their lives. Because of our experiences as regulated marijuana growers, we were invited to address the issue of grow-op safety as guest speakers at last year's B.C. Civil Liberties Association conference in Vancouver with Mayor Larry Campbell and Senator Pierre-Claude Nolin. We offer our expertise to the federal government in regard to the establishment of a safe and legally regulated cannabis industry, so the needs and concerns of both the government and the Canadian public are responsibly addressed. Wendy Little and Eric Nash, Vancouver Island, B.C. Island Harvest medicinal marijuana