Pubdate: Sat, 05 Mar 2005 Source: Montreal Gazette (CN QU) Copyright: 2005 The Gazette, a division of Southam Inc. Contact: http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/274 Author: Dan Boyle Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Rochfort+Bridge (Rochfort Bridge) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) PREVENT TRAGEDY: LEGALIZE MARIJUANA The unfortunate and needless death of four RCMP officers during a raid on a grow-op in Alberta underlines the need to legalize drugs. We must take these dangerous substances out the hands of criminals, and control them as we control cigarettes and alcohol. There is no truth to the claim that legalizing drugs increases drug use. In fact, use of one of the most addictive and legal drugs, tobacco, is on the decline. Canadian jails are full of criminals who grow and sell drugs. There are more than 50,000 grow-ops in Canada. If these people were legally growing and selling these commodities, our police force could focus on violent crimes and not the five per cent of illegal drug dealers whom they capture. Those officers should not have died. My heart goes out to their families. Dan Boyle Chateauguay - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake