Pubdate: Fri, 04 Feb 2011 Source: Burnaby Newsleader (CN BC) Copyright: 2011 Russ Leach Contact: http://www.burnabynewsleader.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1315 Author: Russ Leach Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n062/a11.html PUT THIS (PAPER) IN YOUR PIPE AND SMOKE IT Re: Knocking down police ignores the truth (Letters, NewsLeader, Jan. 28) "Why don't we throw our hands in the air and let criminals be criminals," says Mr. Di Cesare in his letter. Not necessary. All that is needed is for marijuana to be legalized, for 90 per cent of the problem would vanish, along with our crushing cost of trying to win a unwinnable battle. I fear that if we continue the way we are, this country will become like Mexico, where the gangs are so powerful they murder or buy off anyone who opposes them. Don't think it can't happen. The crusade against marijuana was started by an evangelist in the U.S.A. Organizations in the U.S. working to have marijuana outlawed launched a fear campaign, bombarding people with propaganda that the use of marijuana would lead to them becoming murderers, insane or heroin addicts, among other things. We now know this to be untrue. The Canadian government merely followed in lockstep with Washington. Incidentally, marijuana is a very valuable crop. Fast growing, useful for medicine, textiles, and superior to trees in the production of pulp for paper-making. Maybe we could even smoke our newspapers. Russ Leach Burnaby - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D