Pubdate: Tue, 10 Dec 2013
Source: Record, The (Kitchener, CN ON)
Contact:  2013 Metroland Media Group Ltd.
Website: http://www.therecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/225
Author: Jim Mcllwham

MARIJUANA PROHIBITION IS A BAD LAW

Local officer fired for smoking pot - Dec. 10

While I realize police officers are paid to uphold the law not to 
break it, our prohibition of marijuana is a particularly bad law.

It enriches organized crime and incites violent competition among 
these groups. It is costly to enforce, far out of proportion to any 
societal harm. It ensures it is more available to minors, not less, 
as its sale is regulated only by the amount of cash they have in 
their pockets and the sellers, well, I suspect they do not demand ID.

It puts every police officer in a bad spot, as many are compassionate 
and have no interest in charging someone, particularly a young 
person, they catch smoking pot. No doubt a few do follow the letter 
of the law, and as a result it is enforced randomly and unfairly. I 
expect the law will be repealed once we have a change in government, 
or in the unlikely event the Conservatives come to their senses, as 
it has now been repealed in some U.S. states.

Personally, I'd rather spend my tax dollars to feed the hungry, 
shelter the homeless, tackle corruption or about a hundred other more 
pressing concerns but, hey, each to their own.

All of this is to say, stripping a police officer of his livelihood 
is far too harsh a punishment for this crime. I hope it will be 
reconsidered on appeal.

Jim McIlwham

Waterloo
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom