Pubdate: Thu, 24 Mar 2005
Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005 The Edmonton Journal
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134
Author: Alan Randell
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

GROWERS FORCED INSIDE BY SHAMEFUL LAWS

Your headline -- "Infant, toddler found in Calgary grow-op"(March 20) -- is 
clearly intended to demonize growers who are forced by our shameful 
prohibition policies to grow marijuana indoors instead of in greenhouses 
and fields in plain view as, say, tomatoes and roses are.

In common with most of our media, you hardly ever present an even-handed, 
informative account of a drug bust that includes the pros and cons of our 
drug prohibition laws that have clearly failed to put even the smallest 
dent in the illegal drug trade, opting instead to push the government and 
police line all the way. Your rich and powerful corporate owners will be 
pleased indeed at your continued support of the police as they 
enthusiastically utilize our shameful drug laws to persecute the poor, 
especially those who belong to a non-white minority. And I don't doubt that 
in the event the charges of child endangerment are either dropped or found 
wanting, that information will not be found in the pages of your publication.

Alan Randell

Victoria, B.C. 
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MAP posted-by: Beth