Pubdate: Sat, 24 Sep 2005 Source: StarPhoenix, The (CN SN) Copyright: 2005 The StarPhoenix Contact: http://www.canada.com/saskatoon/starphoenix/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/400 Author: Moe Brondum LET POLICE GET BACK TO TACKLING REAL CRIME The marijuana rally held recently in Saskatoon garnered all the attention one would expect of such an event. Several hundred enthusiasts came out to the Vimy Memorial to listen to music, smoke marijuana and protest the harm caused by prohibition. There were no police and no problems. Nothing remarkable happened. What is remarkable, however, is that the Canadian government wastes more than $1.5 billion a year to enforce the marijuana prohibition. This assault on a peaceful culture and the harassment of individual citizens needs to stop! If several hundred people can smoke pot by the river without the police taking notice, why do we continue to waste so much money to arrest, try and jail these people? In this forum I am publicly announcing my intention to totally disregard the marijuana possession laws from this day forward. I am a husband and father, I work in education, and I am an average, middle-aged Canadian, as well as a recreation marijuana user. So, if the police, the government or your readers believe that my possessing a small amount of cannabis deserves prosecution, then they can take steps to prosecute me. Otherwise, I implore anyone who believes that my actions will cause no harm to speak out against marijuana prohibition and get our police back to work solving real crimes. Moe Brondum Saskatoon - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom