Pubdate: Thu, 25 Oct 2012
Source: Northumberland News (CN ON)
Copyright: 2012 by Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing, Ltd.
Contact: http://www.northumberlandnews.com/opinion/submitletter
Website: http://www.northumberlandnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2373
Author: Crystal Crimi

MARIJUANA BUSTS IN NORTHUMBERLAND SPARK ONLINE DEBATE

Facebook posters argue for legalization

To legalize or not to legalize -- that seems to be the discussion that
comes up every time Northumberland police dismantle a marijuana grow
operation.

This year, there's been no shortage of take-downs of this illegal
crop, sometimes grown almost in plain sight, hidden only slightly from
the many vehicles passing by each and every day.

Every time a story is posted to the Northumberland News Facebook page
it's flooded with comments ridiculing the police for wasting time on
this so-called harmless drug. While opinion varies extensively on the
ill effects of marijuana, it seems absurd for people to criticize the
police for targeting grow ops and going after producers.

Regardless of your stance on marijuana, police officers are doing
their job and keeping people safe by cracking down on these illegal
crops, especially considering the booby-traps criminals may set up to
protect the plants, coupled by the fact harvesters sometimes trespass
and plant on the property of others.

That being said, there's still much that needs to be discussed
surrounding marijuana and its criminal consequences.

For the record, I do not support marijuana. No argument presented, no
matter how convincing it may seem, will ever change that. Growing up
just a stone's throw from Northumberland in Orono provided enough
proof of the drug's dark side to etch those feelings in stone.

But there are some changes to the legal system which would make things
easier for everyone involved.

Instead of court proceedings for simple possession, fines would be a
much more practical approach. If someone is caught smoking or carrying
a minimal amount of the drug, an automatic fine of at least $250 could
be issued -- that's enough to get a teen's parents really mad. The
second offence could see a larger fine, say $500. The third time,
substance-abuse counselling would be required.

This approach would keep youth out of the system, saving a substantial
amount of taxpayers' money spent on court proceedings, and hopefully
help clean up kids before they get too lost in the world of drugs.

For traffickers and producers, however, there should be no lenience,
especially for producers.

Marijuana is a gateway drug -- the best way to keep kids from entering
into the world of drugs is to keep them as far away from that gateway
as possible.

Legalization is not required, nor is loosened enforcement for its
growers and sellers. Legalizing the drug would not stop criminal
activity associated with it -- there will still be people growing it
and selling it to minors and dangerously altering it in order to
heighten its effect and make it more desirable for consumers.

There's no doubt changes need to be made to how the justice system
handles marijuana users, but making the drug legal is not the answer.
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