Pubdate: Mon, 13 Mar 2017 Source: Penticton Herald (CN BC) Copyright: 2017 The Okanagan Valley Group of Newspapers Contact: http://www.pentictonherald.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/664 Author: Ron Barillaro Page: A7 THE LAWS OF THE LAND SHALL PREVAIL Dear Editor: The law is the law. In Canada, the law is the law until the law, through parliament, actually changes. In theory, if one breaks the law, there should be consequences that follow. As we all know, many times laws are broken and the consequences have been "of little or no consequence where the bleeding heart court system seems to show sympathy to would be offenders." There seems to be little or no consistency in many court proceedings. Our illustrious Prime Pinister Justin Trudeau made a pre-election grandstand announcement that he and his government would legalize marijuana if and when he was elected. He was elected as we all know and yet there has been little if anything put forth in the way of fulfilling his pre-election promise. The rhetoric from him has been that there are several issues that need to be studied before legislation will be happening. In other words, it is not a cut and dried issue. Recently, there were raids conducted in Toronto on some larger pot outlets owned by Canada's Pot King, Mark Emery and his wife. The outlets were busted along with the Emerys. Many users are crying foul and stating that Trudeau and company should be ashamed for these actions. My question is "Why?." The law has not yet been amended, repealed or struck down. The law is the law. I am neutral when it comes to marijuana issues. Some of the U.S. states that have legalized pot are re-evaluating their stance re: pot. However, I take issue when the hue and cry of pot devotees crying "foul" knowing full well until the law changes, pot sales and pot usage, for the most part (exceptions seem to be medical marijuana from government regulated suppliers) are illegal and subject to court charges. It's not rocket science! Perhaps COP will get the idea that some of the temporary licenses that may have been issued in the city are null and void and that they are against the law. Hopefully, they will re-evaluate their position from a legal standpoint or they would be no better than those that would seek to openly defy the current Canadian law regarding same. Until there is a marked change and new definition of legal pot sales and use, the laws of the land prevail. Again, not rocket science! Ron Barillaro Penticton - --- MAP posted-by: Matt