Pubdate: Wed, 7 May 2008
Source: Express (Nelson, CN BC)
Copyright: 2008 Kootenay Express Communication Corp.
Contact: http://www.expressnews.ca/letters.html
Website: http://www.expressnews.ca
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2339
Author: Phil Mader

ENERGY SHOULD BE SPENT ON HOUSING CRISIS, NOT HOLY SMOKE

Dear editor:

The courts are now processing the "criminal"charge against Holy Smoke
Culture Shop.

As we know cases are sometimes switched city location because a
hostile environment surrounds it.  It can be said that to a certain
degree, the City of Nelson, by recently upping its cooperation with
police in enforcement of breaking up cannabis grow ops, has worked to
mobilize opinion against the growth and sale of cannabis, in spite of
the fact that cannabis production and distribution generates local
jobs and revenues.

It's sad to see the City of Nelson furnishing such support to
suppression of our local cannabis commerce and it's time it sees the
outlawing and prosecution of cannabis growth and sale as a waste of
taxpayer's money, a waste of personnel, a waste of resources, and a
waste of "air time."

What should the City of Nelson put that money and that energy into
instead? How about Nelson's whopping housing crisis? Or care for the
mentally disabled, or the crying need for added daycare resources?

Ignorance can be reversed.

Hopefully the judge handling this case lives and thinks on higher
ground than the City of Nelson presently occupies.

Phil Mader,
Nelson
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake