Pubdate: Thu, 27 Apr 2006
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 Times Colonist
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Fred Mallach
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

LEGALIZE MARIJUANA TO CUT THE CRIME RATE

Re: "In the war on marijuana, individuals have rights," column, April 17.

If we were honest with ourselves regarding the criminalization of 
cannabis we would arrive at the conclusion that the current situation 
is not working.

Paul Willcocks's column regarding illegal grow-ops ends by wondering 
if we could eliminate the risk of grow-ops in neighbourhoods, and the 
role of criminal gangs in profiting from the industry, by allowing 
individuals to grow their own. That's like saying you can have 
tomatoes if you grow your own. Not many people would grow their own 
and the "black market" supply in tomatoes would still exist.

Until we accept what the Senate committee report said in 2002 and 
legalize cannabis, we will not eradicate the illegal production of 
it. Until we legalize marijuana, regulate and tax it, we will 
continue to waste our valuable time and energy -- resources that 
could be better spent fighting illegal production of marijuana by 
unlicensed criminal elements.

Fred Mallach,

Victoria.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman