Pubdate: Sat, 23 May 2009 Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC) Copyright: 2009 Abbotsford News Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/BkAJKrUD Website: http://www.abbynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n519/a03.html Author: Klaus Nenn DECRIMINALIZATION WILL SAVE LIVES In reference to the Tim Felger arrest for trafficking in marijuana. (Allegedly) dealing to kids wasn't wise, but overall I would say after numerous discussions with the man, I believe his philosophy on the drug wars is correct. A huge percentage of my tax dollars are spent on a useless drug war that was started by the very people who created the problem. If politicians make cigarettes and glasses of wine or gin and tonics at dinner illegal substances, we can guarantee the same liquor and smoke war in three years. People will drive up the demand, drive up the price and then the gangs will surely follow. It's a circular equation that makes no sense and only provides the police with a bigger overtime budget. It is an orchestrated game that guarantees massive budgets to keep these agencies growing. Note the picture of Felger which indicates a staged photo-op for the police. Nothing like doing your job, of course, only if you can get publicity for it. What business is it of the government, especially as the right-wing politicians agree, to be meddling in our private lives? Who cares if a little old lady smokes a joint in her basement on a Friday night, or snorts chilly peppers at lunch? It's her business. Tim Felger at the very least is a man who puts his belief on the line, while the hundreds of thousands of British Columbians who smoke in the closet, wimp out in times when their voices need to be heard. More have died from the gang wars over the control of weed than will ever die from toking the weed. I am insulted that I pay for this phoney war and that politicians haven't the open mind to discuss real solutions. Decriminalizing marijuana will remove the gang element and save lives. And if you care for your kids, do as my father did when I was growing, he stayed on top of my activities, who I hung with and where I went. Klaus Nenn - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake