To the editor:

Re: "Da Kine caf, an international cause," Sept 22.

Your article reported on the support for the petition urging Vancouver city council not to shut down the Da Kine cafe.

The Da Kine cafe's open sale of marijuana is illegal. This has brought demands that the police enforce the law and that council terminate its business licence. However, enforcement of bad laws creates problems.

Other bad laws were enforced at one time, but that enforcement is now seen as unjust and destructive. Homosexuality and the sale of birth control products were both illegal in Canada until 1969. This was long after Canadians' attitudes had changed. While selling condoms was still illegal, no reasonable person demanded police raids on pharmacies or putting them out of business. The history of the enforcement of anti-homosexuality laws is now viewed with shame and anger.

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