Pubdate: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 Source: Almaguin News (CN ON) Copyright: Almaguin News 2012 Contact: http://www.almaguinnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3732 Author: Rick Dalton Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n096/a09.html FORMER OFFICER WEIGHS IN ON POT DEBATE I was overwhelmed when I read the letter from Dan Mulligan in the Feb. 1 edition of the Forester. I am astounded that a currently serving police officer would agree that we should decriminalize marijuana. Does he not know the crimes associated with this illicit drug are rampant and widespread? I spent three years in an undercover capacity at a drug squad unit while employed by the Metropolitan Toronto Police Force. Maybe he should come down to the "big smoke" to see how we deal with it: executing a search warrant on a house where the occupant tried to kill me and my partner to protect his stash of 54 kilos of marijuana; the shootings that occur in the Jane/Finch corridor and eastern Scarborough over drugs and drug debts. This drug, as all illicit drugs or narcotics, in my respectful opinion, is the scourge of the earth. Youths committing break and enters into homes and stealing from our shopkeepers, all to get money to purchase this "benign, God-given plant." I think not. The growers, smugglers, dealers and users are criminals and should be treated as such. "Decriminalizing our youth", a primary measure. Where have you been hiding or is their no marijuana in Bracebridge or surrounding Muskoka? I do not know how much stronger my words can be. But to decriminalize marijuana to support a measure to decriminalize our youth is a process in the wrong direction. Finally, I ask, what would you do Dan if your kids) came home with a pound of "weed" stashed in their backpacks? The same I think all of us would do, call the police. Rick Dalton Former Lake of Bays cottager retired police officer Metropolitan Toronto Police Force - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom