Pubdate: Thu, 22 Nov 2012
Source: Chilliwack Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Chilliwack Times
Contact:  http://www.chilliwacktimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1357
Author: Glenn Driedger

THE SMOKER YOU DRINK, THE PLAYER YOU GET

Over the last year, we've had numerous leaders from our province
promoting the legalization of marijuana, from former city mayors,
politicians, medical people, people who are generally "in the know."

In their defence, I think there is sincerity in their motives. For
some they are concerned with the potential tragedy of young people
ending up in jail or having their future careers damaged by charges
related to the possession of a few ounces of marijuana. And in all
fairness, the war on drugs hasn't been effective. But what I'm
wrestling with is, will decriminalizing marijuana solve the problem?
By that logic we could empty all the prisons if we just decriminalized
prostitution and thievery and murder and . . .

The recent U.S. election resulted in the acceptance of a proposition
which would decriminalize the private use of marijuana in both
Washington and Colorado. I was somewhat in awe when I heard Washington
politicians declare that this could result in a one-billion-dollar
windfall for their state alone as a 25 per cent sales tax would be
implemented.

The "small print" of this speech included a number of benefits for the
state, one of which was investing $600 million (60 per cent of the
reward) in dealing with addictions. As an average citizen in a
province whose leaders are pursuing similar intentions with
legalization, I guess I simply don't get the bigger picture? Maybe the
"war on drugs" hasn't succeeded, but I'm wondering if this is our answer?

You do not need to be a social scientist to know what will happen if
you legalize the use of weed. It will skyrocket. Law abiding citizens
that would never touch the stuff or even know where to get it for that
matter, would now think, "Why not give it a try? It's not like I'm
breaking any laws."

The Dutch experiment has proven exactly that. Following Holland's
decriminalization of the possession of cannabis, use went up 300 per
cent (15 per cent to 45 per cent) The long-term societal effect is not
hard to determine now that we have years of relaxed marijuana laws in
places like Amsterdam. The city boasts 730 coffee shops, where
customers can buy herbal cannabis or hashish without fear of arrest.
Millions of tourists flock to the city every year to enjoy a legal
high.

The Dutch government loves it too as they collect more than $300
million Euros in tax annually from the "coffee shops" alone.

If it sounds eerily like a druggie's Las Vegas, then you are reading
this right. And, like Vegas, the profits to be made from marijuana
have attracted organized crime. Holland is no longer known for growing
tulips; cannabis is the cash crop of choice. Dutch police believe that
the underground cannabis growing cottage industry has now become one
of their nation's biggest earners of foreign currency, worth an
estimated $2.7 billion Euros in total- about half as much as Holland's
legitimate horticultural business.

Organized crime has moved in and strong armed its way into control of
the industry. Max Daniel, Holland's police commissioner responsible
for cannabis, calls it a danger to Dutch society.

"There is now so much money to be made that cannabis is sucking in
organized crime gangs from abroad and corrupting legitimate
businesspeople-especially lawyers, estate agents and bankers. Money
laundering is a massive enterprise, and it is bringing together
white-collar professionals and the kind of criminals who deal with
heroin, prostitutes and people-smuggling."

Daniel laments, "Cannabis is a threat to our democracy." Some law
enforcement officials are recommending closing down the "coffee
shops." Their cries are falling on deaf ears as the public has come to
enjoy their little vice and government has come to be dependent on
their big tax and tourism revenues. Police are now spending one third
of their time dealing with drug-related crime.

I guess I could go on with the projected benefits of our new casino .
. . You would need to be closer to my age to remember Joe Walsh's
great album, "The Smoker You Drink The Player You Get. The convoluted
title's message was clear, the more pot you smoke . . .

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- - Glenn Driedger is the lead pastor of Chilliwack Evangelical
Missionary Church. Your comments are welcome at  ---
MAP posted-by: Matt