Pubdate: Tue, 17 Apr 2012 Source: Guelph Mercury (CN ON) Copyright: 2012 Guelph Mercury Newspapers Limited Contact: http://news.guelphmercury.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1418 Author: Russell Bart LATEST DRUG LEGISLATION WILL ONLY INCREASE CRIME I'm writing in response to Geoffrey Stevens recent column: F-35 fighter purchase shaky from the start. Another scandal no one talks about is marijuana prohibition. Let me explain: In the summer of 2010, the government moved to end the gun registry, which was of questionable value. This change was very important to a very small number of Canadians. The press milked the story dry from every angle. That same summer, the government changed some rules making anything involving any amount of marijuana a "serious" crime. This makes it harder for people to make bail or to plead out to lower charges. The press barely hiccupped, even though this law would cost more and do more damage than the implementation or destruction of the gun registry. Then in 2012, they passed Bill C10, imposing nine-month mandatory jail terms for growing one marijuana plant in a rented unit, or six months for passing a joint. This promises to increase costs, crime and violence over the coming decade. My point? Well, as big a scandal as Adscam, the gun registry, and now the F-35 scandals were (or are), the media is largely ignoring the fact that the government keeps passing laws that serve to increase violence and crime, laws that criminalize our kids, and laws that subsidize organized crime to the tune of billions annually. Why is that scandal not being exposed? Russell Barth, Nepean - --- MAP posted-by: Matt