To the editor, Re: "Youth psychiatrist disappointed in Nova Scotia's marijuana age decision," Dec. 9. Do "health officials" and "provincial and national health organizations" ever think about the social consequences and harms of cannabis prohibition? They are so narrow-minded and seem to only think about the safety of a product. If it isn't 100 per cent safe in their minds, they think it should be illegal. If they had a chance, they would probably make everything illegal that humans do, except for using pharmaceutical drugs, of course. Do they not understand that criminal records and jail sentences for young-adult cannabis users and growers are unhealthy? Herb Couch Nelson, B.C. [end]
To the editor: Re: "Youth psychiatrist disappointed in Nova Scotia's marijuana age decision" (Dec. 9/17.) Do "health officials" and "provincial and national health organizations" ever think about the social consequences and harms of cannabis prohibition? They are so narrow-minded and seem to only think about the safety of a product. If it isn't 100 per cent safe in their minds, they think it should be illegal? If they had a chance, they would probably make everything illegal that humans do, except for using pharmaceutical drugs, of course. Do they not understand that criminal records and jail sentences for young-adult cannabis users and growers are unhealthy? Herb Couch, Nelson, B.C. [end]
Re: "Time to treat addiction as a mental health issue" by Chris Nelson, Dec. 27 I would certainly agree with Chris Nelson that cannabis should be legalized. Cannabis prohibition has been a complete failure. He is correct when he says that drug prohibition is "among the deadliest and costliest exercises society has tried." Regulating cannabis is a much better approach to take. We must, also, recognize that accurate, scientific, reality-based information is necessary, in order for people to make informed decisions about cannabis use. [continues 314 words]
Re: "Time to treat addiction as a mental health issue" by Chris Nelson, Dec. 27 I would certainly agree with Chris Nelson that cannabis should be legalized. Cannabis prohibition has been a complete failure. He is correct when he says that drug prohibition is "among the deadliest and costliest exercises society has tried." Regulating cannabis is a much better approach to take. We must, also, recognize that accurate, scientific, reality-based information is necessary, in order for people to make informed decisions about cannabis use. [continues 298 words]
Re: "Time to treat addiction as a mental health issue," Dec. 27. I would certainly agree with Chris Nelson that cannabis should be legalized. Cannabis prohibition has been a complete failure. He is correct when he says that drug prohibition is "among the deadliest and costliest exercises society has tried." Regulating cannabis is a much better approach to take. We must also recognize that accurate, scientific, reality-based information is necessary in order for people to make informed decisions about cannabis use. It is very important to not spread misinformation about cannabis to the public. [continues 303 words]
Re: "Time to treat addiction as a mental health issue," Dec. 27. I would certainly agree with Chris Nelson that cannabis should be legalized. Cannabis prohibition has been a complete failure. He is correct when he says that drug prohibition is "among the deadliest and costliest exercises society has tried." Regulating cannabis is a much better approach to take. We must, also, recognize that accurate, scientific, reality-based information is necessary, in order for people to make informed decisions about cannabis use. [continues 316 words]
To the editor: Re: "Time to treat addiction as a mental health issue" by Chris Nelson, December 27, Recorder and Times I would certainly agree with columnist Chris Nelson that cannabis should be legalized. Cannabis prohibition has been a complete failure. He is correct when he says that drug prohibition is "among the deadliest and costliest exercises society has tried." Regulating cannabis is a much better approach to take. We must, also, recognize that accurate, scientific, reality-based information is necessary, in order for people to make informed decisions about cannabis use. [continues 315 words]
Re: "Time to treat addiction as a mental health issue," Dec. 27, 2016. I would certainly agree with Chris Nelson cannabis should be legalized. Cannabis prohibition has been a complete failure. He is correct when he says that drug prohibition is "among the deadliest and costliest exercises society has tried." Regulating cannabis is a much better approach to take. We must also recognize accurate, scientific, reality-based information is necessary in order for people to make informed decisions about cannabis use. [continues 310 words]
Re: "Time to treat addiction as a mental health issue" by Chris Nelson (Sarnia Observer, Dec. 27). I would certainly agree with Chris Nelson that cannabis should be legalized. Cannabis prohibition has been a complete failure. He is correct when he says that drug prohibition is "among the deadliest and costliest exercises society has tried." Regulating cannabis is a much better approach to take. We must, also, recognize that accurate, scientific, reality-based information is necessary, in order for people to make informed decisions about cannabis use. [continues 315 words]
Please don't accuse Sensible BC canvassers of starting this disturbing, unfortunate "at odds" incident. The statement that canvassers were on the Ferraro Foods property is absolutely false. No canvasser was ever collecting signatures in front of the opening to the store. Sensible BC canvassers all know that to set up on private property requires permission. What really happened that day? We were on the public sidewalk canvassing for the initiative petition under Election BC guidelines and rules. We were always polite and conducted ourselves in an appropriate manner. [continues 373 words]
To the Editor: (Re: "This is the Life: Taking the high road with marijuana laws") Lorne Eckersley stated, "Crown Counsel adamantly refuses to prosecute charges on small amounts of marijuana possession because a) the courts are already backed up and b) judges have long since stopped attempting to use fines and jail sentences to stop what is essentially a tidal wave of victimless crime." However, it is a myth that you can't get arrested for pot possession in B.C. For example, the rate of criminal charges for marijuana possession in Creston has risen dramatically in recent years. In 2003, there were two pot possession charges in Creston (rural). In 2011, there were 23 pot possession charges in Creston (rural). [continues 93 words]
Re: "Major summer bud haul for Mounties," October 27 It is right that Kaslo mayor Greg Lay, a professional forester, is concerned about the environmental damage that outdoor grow-ops can cause. However, he does not offer any rational solutions. Instead, he is only acting as a shill for the RCMP and their wasteful and futile pot plant eradication efforts. If Greg Lay really wants to protect the environment, he needs to advocate for a legal and regulated pot market. Then people will not need to hide their pot gardens on Crown land. [continues 68 words]
Re: 'Budbusters' move in on pot plantations, Sept. 3 Here we go again wasting the taxpayers' hard earned money. So what if the "The Budbusters - a joint team of police and military staff -have worked together to locate 460 plantations across Vancouver Island." It sounds like a lot of pot, but what difference will it make? Last year's police pot harvest didn't stop this year's crop and this year's police harvest won't stop next year's crop. In fact, the pot plantations are just getting bigger and more numerous. [continues 257 words]
Dear Editor, Re: "Watch out for pot, urges Crime Stoppers " July 24 edition of the Oxford-Review Here we go again wasting the taxpayers' hard-earned money. So what if Crime Stoppers of Oxford is telling citizens to watch out for pot? What difference will it make? After all, "outdoor cultivation of marijuana throughout Ontario's rural communities is as common as ice cream cones in summer!" Last year's police pot harvest didn't stop this year's crop and this year's police pot harvest won't stop next year's crop. The recent "outdoor pot busts" by the police are glaring examples of the futility of prohibition. [continues 205 words]
Editor, Re: RCMP seizes thousands of marijuana plants from outdoor grow ops, October 21, 2009 So what if the Kootenay Boundary Regional Detachment of the RCMP seized 14,130 marijuana plants from 88 sites throughout the region? What difference will it make? Last year's RCMP harvest didn't stop this year's crop and this year's RCMP harvest won't stop next year's crop. The recent outdoor marijuana eradication efforts by the RCMP are glaring examples of the futility of prohibition. [continues 241 words]
Editor, The Gazette Re: Thousands of plants seized in summer busts, October 21, 2009 So what if the Kootenay Boundary Regional Detachment of the RCMP seized 14,130 marijuana plants from 88 sites throughout the region? What difference will it make? Last year's RCMP harvest didn't stop this year's crop and this year's RCMP harvest won't stop next year's crop. The recent outdoor "marijuana eradication" efforts by the RCMP are glaring examples of the futility of prohibition. [continues 218 words]
Re: $27 million in marijuana seized across the region, Oct. 14 So what if members of the OPP's Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau Team 3 Central North Drug Unit "were able to locate and eradicate 50 marijuana plots." What difference will it make? Last year's police harvest didn't stop this year's crop and this year's police harvest won't stop next year's crop. The recent outdoor "marijuana eradication" efforts by the police are glaring examples of the futility of prohibition. [continues 239 words]
Re: 21 charged in massive drug bust, Oct. 15 So what if the undercover police operation "netted roughly $12,000 worth of drugs and over $2,700 in cash through street-level drug purchases by undercover officers." Are we really supposed to believe that arresting 21 drug dealers has somehow "cleaned up" the downtown of illegal drugs for even one day? New dealers will just take the place of the arrested drug dealers. The demand for drugs will never go away and there will always be those willing to risk arrest to partake in the huge prohibition-inflated profits that can be made. That is our reality and we need to face it. [continues 233 words]
Re: Let's get tough on crime with the genuine criminals, October 14 Yes! Dave Breakenridge is correct. Mandatory jail sentences for people who grow as few as five marijuana plants is bad. The prohibition of marijuana is not getting "tough on crime." Rather, it is getting "stupid on crime." Indeed, marijuana prohibition sends the wrong messages to our young people. First, putting non-violent plant users and growers in jails because they make a much safer choice, of marijuana instead of beer, is more than hypocritical, it's bullying. Why are we sending an adult message to our young people that bullying and hurting others is okay? [continues 151 words]
In the Tribune's Oct. 20 front page article "Drug blitz cleans up downtown - for now," Police Chief Rob Davis says he is "satisfied" with the results of Project Crackdown, a two-month-long project that resulted in the arrest of only 21 street-level drug dealers. Are we really to believe that arresting 21 drug dealers has somehow "cleaned up" the downtown of illegal drugs for even one day? The demand for drugs will never go away, and there will always be those willing to risk arrest to partake in the huge prohibition-inflated profits that can be made. That is our reality and we need to face it. [continues 229 words]
