Pubdate: Wed, 09 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: Tim O'Connor
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n363/a07.html

FOCUS ON REAL CRIME

Re: For years, everyone saw this coming, March 5.

I agree with Dan Gardner that the U.S. notion of waging war on drugs does 
not work. We can see that in Canada and the U.S., where hard and soft drugs 
are as widely available as ever, indicating continued strong demand. I am 
sure prices stayed on par for the last few decades, indicating a solid 
source of supply.

Wasting police lives, public funds and energy to chase a common weed is 
ridiculous. Why not legalize marijuana, collect taxes on its use, and use 
the increased funds to redirect police and military operations towards 
hard-core criminal activity such as murder or terrorism.

I realize that some people in the legal and police community had a 
knee-jerk reaction to this incident and said that increased sentences for 
marijuana trafficking would have prevented the tragedy. Let's be honest 
with ourselves: Even a life-sentence would not have deterred the Alberta 
man as he clearly chose the death sentence for himself after committing his 
heinous crimes.

The demand for drugs will never decrease, so we should focus our energy on 
the best way to control the supply. I do not believe that a war on 
professional botanists is the best solution.

Tim O'Connor,

Ottawa  
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth