Pubdate: Wed, 10 Aug 2005
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Times Colonist
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/victoria/timescolonist/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Tom Pickett
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

CANADA SHOULD REJECT U.S. 'DRUG WAR'

In Paul Willcocks' otherwise excellent opinion piece "No role for Canada in 
a failing drug war" he states, "The approach -- trying to reduce supply and 
lock up offenders -- has accomplished nothing."

On the contrary, the diversion of resources by "Drug Warriors" has 
generated an unprecedented buildup of the police, judicial and penal 
systems on both sides of the border.

In Canada, it appears a collusion of Americans and a few public servants is 
undermining the wishes of the people of this country.

The Pierre Trudeau government's LeDain commission of 1972 addressed this 
issue and recommended the legalization or decriminalization of marijuana. 
The U.S. has been meddling in our domestic policy around this issue ever since.

The invasion of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration followed by the 
U.S. government's quasi-legal attempt to imprison pot activist Marc Emery, 
and the involvement of our bureaucrats in this matter, indicates that it's 
past time to assert our country's uniqueness and sovereignty over what most 
Canadians still consider to be largely a health issue.

The real crime here is the redirecting and misuse of our resources by 
powerful groups with personal agendas. Canada simply can't afford the 
divisive "American Drug War."

I don't support the smoking of pot, either.

Tom Pickett,

Saltspring Island. 
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MAP posted-by: Beth