Pubdate: Wed, 04 May 2005 Source: New Hamburg Independent (CN ON) Copyright: 2005 Fairway Newspaper Group Contact: http://www.newhamburgindependent.ca Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3421 Author: Colin Walker Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) DEATHS RESULT OF POOR PROCEDURES In response to Joseph Lederman's letter "All or nothing with marijuana laws"in the April 20 edition and Lederman's statement - "I write in response to the recent tragic murders of the young RCMP officers in Alberta. Were their deaths meaningless?" Their deaths had nothing to do with cannabis other than its presence. The police officers were there to investigate stolen auto parts and happened across a 300 plant grow op. Mr. Lederman is implying that the police were there for cannabis and even the police do not claim that. Pot did not kill the officers, pot was not the reason they were there, and pot is completely irrelevant to the events in question. It's not about the danger posed by indoor agriculture, it is about poor procedures, a guy with a gun, a history of violence and hatred for the police. The people have made up their minds about cannabis given its ubiquitous usage. It is the politicians that refuse to budge because they fear retribution from Washington. I for one would rather have completely legal and regulated cannabis instead of a police state to attempt to prevent its use and fail continually. As for the police being in limbo, surely they have better things to do than harass youths and bust pot smokers??? Colin Walker New Westminster, BC - --- MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman