Pubdate: Fri, 27 Apr 2012
Source: Morning Star, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 The Morning Star
Contact:  http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1352
Author: Bob Hagman
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n205/a06.html

A SENSIBLE STANCE ON MARIJUANA

Re: The Morning Star article of April 4, regarding the majority of 
Enderby's city council endorsing the decriminalization of marijuana.

First, congratulations to Enderby's city council for their stand 
which, essentially, is a statement on the futility of using 
prohibition as a tool for controlling the demand for marijuana. 
Indeed, the continuing prohibition and the proceeds of crime that it 
induces, has all of the trademarks of years past, during the "roaring 
twenties", when the same thing was tried - unsuccessfully, it must be 
added - with alcohol.

Secondly, shame on our federal MP, Colin Mayes, and those others 
whose dinosaur views are simply a page from that past and, sadly, it 
must be stated, reflect the status quo.

A status quo, it must be added, that uses the criminal justice system 
and its penalties to try to prohibit and punish what is clearly a 
health and educational issue.

After all, we do not use the criminal justice system to identify and 
seek out those addicted or otherwise abusing prescription 
pharmaceuticals such as pain killers, and psycho-tropic/mood altering 
drugs. No, we use education and the health care system.

And, by any comparison, the abuse of prescription pharmaceuticals far 
outweighs the use of marijuana. In fact, it is epidemic in our 
society and culture and the costs to society are enormous.

By way of comparison, the costs for the criminal justice system and 
its oft proclaimed "war on drugs" is in the order of billions of 
dollars each year, and yet the rate of interdiction remains abysmally 
low - around 10 per cent - and hasn't changed much for literally decades.

As one who has worked previously in the criminal justice system for 
about 25 years, in a variety of capacities (correctional worker; 
probation officer; director of the major provincial detention 
facility for youth; and as a warden for a maximum security adult 
remand prison in Vancouver) I can say, unequivocally, that the stand 
and position taken by the majority of Enderby's city council is the 
only sensible way forward.

What's more, it is a view shared, in my view, by the majority of 
those I worked with in the criminal justice system including law 
enforcement personnel as well as the legal profession.

Bob Hagman,

Enderby
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom