Pubdate: Thu, 26 Mar 2015
Source: Chief, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Whistler Printing & Publishing
Website: http://www.squamishchief.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2414
Author: Steven Hill

LAWS NEED TO CHANGE, NOT RCMP

Like many, I was disappointed Bryan Raiser was forced to shut down his
medical marijuana dispensary and is now dispensing only
information.

Not only do I believe marijuana should be made easily available to
those who are sick and use it as medicine, but I also have leanings
that it should be legalized, like alcohol. Heck, for a whole schwack
of the population, I actually think it should be legally mandated.

Amongst that group are the folks who have been speaking ill of our
local RCMP for having the incredible audacity to do the thing that,
y'know, they're paid to do.

Raiser, unfortunately, took a chance on a business whose legality
resides in some weird gray area right now, thanks to Canada's
seemingly 1950s-era approach and attitude to marijuana. That's Canada
the government, not Canada the people. Canada the people=C2=85 apparently

they like the weed, according to polls on the subject.

But we usually sneer at our neighbours to the south for their
right-wing conservative ways, where guns give some a special tingly
feeling, and racism and anti-Muslim fervour is just another choice on
the xenophobic and homophobic menu, yet they have even seen the
futility of the so-called war on drugs and begun legalization in many
states. With success, mind you.

And that's the point.

Right now dispensaries like Raiser's are deemed illegal, but in some
places in the province, for whatever reasons, the police leave them
alone. And in others, like Squamish, that's unfortunately not the case.

But that doesn't mean our RCMP are jackbooted stormtroopers who
deserve derision. Maybe they received complaints, or orders from up
high. Whatever the reason, the bottom line is they acted upon a
business that's been deemed illegal. Raiser has even said he doesn't
hold any ill will or blame local police for just doing their jobs. And
neither should you.

If you really want places like Raiser's to become legal, it's up to us
to make our voices heard, not demand the police turn a blind eye. Or
maybe you want tighter drug controls. Your opinions are valid and you
should let them be known, too. Who am I to harsh your mellow, man?

So, by all means please write your MLA, MP, the PM or heck, even your
PTA, but leave the RCMP out of it.
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MAP posted-by: Matt