Pubdate: Tue, 06 Mar 2007 Source: Ladysmith Chronicle (CN BC) Copyright: 2007 BC Newspaper Group & New Media Contact: http://www.ladysmithchronicle.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1279 Author: John Anderson, PhD Referred: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n258/a03.html?322537 CHANGE FEDERAL LEGISLATION, NOT MUNICIPAL BYLAWS Editor: The recently enacted bylaw by North Cowichan council to have landlords police their properties for marijuana "grow-ops" places crime control efforts in the wrong hands. Hopefully, Ladysmith town councillors will not be seduced by the same flawed thinking. People grow marijuana for profit because federal politicians refuse to repeal the laws we have today, despite the recommendations for decriminalizing cannabis from two commissions of inquiry in 1969 and 2002. Our current laws against marijuana foster a perpetual black market and all the problems associated with it. Organized crime, violence, property damage, theft of electricity and money-laundering will continue to thrive under our repressive laws. It is futile to recruit landlords to enforce our failed prohibitionist policies. It makes far more sense to have the Union of British Columbia Municipalities lobby the federal government to decriminalize the possession and cultivation of cannabis. John Anderson, PhD Criminology Department, Malaspina University-College, Nanaimo, B.C. Canada - --- MAP posted-by: Derek