Editor: Thanks for the clue in that federal law trumps state law. If the Civil War wasn't lesson enough, we know for sure now. Your letter suggests that we in California and particularly us folks here in Tehama County are being irrational and irrelevant in our trying to hammer out a workable solution in regards to medical marijuana when federal law prohibits all use or possession of it. The fact is that if we waited around to get permission from the top before we did anything, we'd still be swearing allegiance to England right now. [continues 388 words]
While there may be some legitimate concerns about the new anti-drug enforcement initiative in the Downtown Eastside, complaints about the movement of drug dealing and associated property crime to other neighbourhoods are simply not valid. Such complaints reflect a notion that containment is an acceptable solution to Vancouver's drug conundrum. For too long, the Downtown Eastside has been the dumping ground for Vancouver's social problems. As a result, it was allowed to become a disaster area before any substantive policies were put in place. Now, as enforcement moves drug dealers and users beyond the confines of the ghetto that sprang up to house them, perhaps the citizens of Greater Vancouver will recognize it is an issue that we all need to address. David M. Roth Burnaby [end]
