Pubdate: Sat, 12 Mar 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: Raymond H. Lindsay Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) WE NEED REASONED DEBATE ON DRUG CONTROL Re: "We must curb this social plague." March 9. That gangs or organized criminal elements are often involved in grow operations seems clear enough. To suggest that the Mayerthorpe farm was one of those seems not. If the RCMP perceived things differently, they recklessly exposed four young officers to more than the threat of a lone cop-hater. The consequences of using marijuana have never been properly debated. Government after government has successfully avoided presenting the available social and scientific evidence that might well settle the debate, because some of the electorate wants it settled on moral principles and not on the facts. To equate marijuana use with the "plague" represented by grow-ops is not yet supported by accepted fact. That said, Canada cannot impose its views, philosophical or legal, on the United States. And Canada has an obligation, to say nothing of great economic incentives, to close the border to a substance our neighbours do not want. There are ways of doing that, while permitting Canada and Canadians the freedom to make their own choices. Canadians sentenced in the United States need not be permitted to serve reduced sentences in Canada and such is far from being universally the case. Nor are judges to blame for the lack of government leadership in dealing with drug cases. If Canadians want something different than we have when it comes to drug enforcement, our government will have to so legislate. After reasoned debate, and not in the heat of a tragedy. Raymond H. Lindsay, Sidney. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth