Pubdate: Thu, 12 Apr 2007 Source: Medicine Hat News (CN AB) Copyright: 2007 Alberta Newspaper Group, Inc. Contact: http://www.medicinehatnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1833 Author: Lee Thompson POLICE SHOULD FOCUS ON REAL CRIME On the front page of the March 29 edition of The News I read a few curious and puzzling comments made by Norm Boucher, our chief of police. He stated the Medicine Hat Police Service is only capable of removing a meager eight per cent of the illegal narcotics flowing through our city. Eight per cent is a complete failure of policy and method. If the return on the vast dollars spent on the local "war on drugs" is eight per cent we would be wise to rethink our current approach. I don't wish to discredit or diminish the efforts of the police, they have been charged with an impossible task, using futile methods. Boucher described $16,500 worth of narcotics as "a sizable amount." I think $16,500 worth of narcotics is like removing a grain of sand from a beach would be a better description of the bust. Boucher said the chiefs of police in Alberta are strongly opposed the decriminalization of marijuana because "profits from marijuana are used to buy other drugs." This statement is accurate but incomplete. What should be added is that profits from marijuana are used to purchase weapons, corrupt our government, and build powerful violent gangs. Profits from cocaine have put parts of South and Central America into a state of anarchy, causing the death of millions of innocent people. Profits from heroin fund terrorism and will likely purchase the first nuclear weapon detonated on North American soil. Legalization is the only way to devalue narcotics and render them unprofitable. Legalization is the only way to end profiteering at the expense of the weak and sick. Legalization is the only way to end this suffering and madness. Drug abuse is a medical illness and should be treated as such. Let the police focus on real crime so the world can heal. Lee Thompson - --- MAP posted-by: Derek