Pubdate: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 Source: Nanaimo Daily News (CN BC) Copyright: 2009 Nanaimo Daily News Contact: http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1608 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n801/a01.html Author: J. S. Harms DRUGS PROBLEMS ECLIPSE THE MARIJUANA ISSUE Re: 'Care is needed with grow-op crackdown,' (Our View, Daily News, Aug. 11) The valid question was posed, "Are so many people so chronically unhappy with their lives, jobs, relationships and themselves that they flee to marijuana thinking it will make them feel better?" Let's have a show of hands. Do you drink caffeinated coffee, smoke cigarettes and/or drink alcohol frequently? Maybe it's to give you a pick-me-up in the morning or help you relax during those stressful times and calm down after a hard day? Does anyone you know turn to these substances because they are unhappy with their lives, jobs, relationships and themselves? The significantly more serious problems that these multi-billion-dollar industries enable easily eclipses the marijuana issue. Just because someone decided one day that these substances would be legalized, doesn't change the fact that you may indeed be addicted to some of the most addictive substances on earth. Not to mention drugs from the local drug store or fast food additives. Illegal marijuana use and it's industry is a problem, and it's understandable that police exaggerate the number of grow-ops to ensure that future funding is maintained. Otherwise we would hear of more than a handful of grow-ops actually being discovered. B.C. Hydro's consumption information can be a useful investigative tool and since we already allow agencies to monitor our finances, locations and conversations, should we be concerned with this approach to keeping the peace? J. S. Harms Nanaimo - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake