Pubdate: Thu, 20 Dec 2012
Source: Chilliwack Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Chilliwack Times
Contact:  http://www.chilliwacktimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1357

EAGER TO FIGHT GROW OPS NOW

There will be a lot of smiling and nodding and happy faces at the news
that federal health minister Leona Aglukkaq is taking aim at marijuana
growers who are hiding behind current laws to operate illegal drug
businesses.

Nobody wants illegal grow ops in their neighbourhoods or in their
communities.

We all pay for the electricity they steal. We all pay for the service
costs they dodge by not paying taxes on their enterprising activities.

Nobody wants the dangers associated with living next door to such
operations. There is always the very real risk that their colleagues
in crime will bring violence to their "place of business"-which can
easily spill onto the streets as they "protect their interests" or
into nearby homes through "mistaken identity" or even into local
shopping malls as they engage in open battle with one another.

Police officers risk their lives trying to protect innocent bystanders
and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Firefighters face grave risks when they all too often have to deal
with grow op fires-or fires in legitimate homes that they might have
reason to fear could be grow ops. How many times have they felt they
had reason to hesitate, when perhaps it hadn't been necessary? And how
do you measure the cost of that?

We all pay the social costs. And we all are eager to shed those
costs-or at least make those who force that burden on us pay.

But one thing about Aglukkaq's proposal bothers us. How will we know
that her solution is the best possible?

She insists there will be a period of open consultation, and also
insists her proposals will be implemented in 2014.

Why bother with the consultation, if she's so sure her solution is
right?

Either honestly listen for the best answers, or do it right now.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D