Re: "Grow-ops: how to recognize and report them," Cop Talk column, Friday, June 22. The dangers of indoor growing Cpl. Jamie Chung speaks of are 90-per-cent fiction, and need to be addressed in a serious and rational debate. Fact 1: The laws of possession and cultivation of cannabis are in fact invalid at this time. The most recent case, of Matt Mernagh in St. Catharines Ont., ruled these laws are invalid without a constitutionally valid medical marijuana program in place to protect Mr. Mernagh from prosecution. [continues 331 words]
In response to MP Colin Mayes column, Legalizing marijuana raises health concerns, in the March 28 EVN.:Your ignorance of cannabis is obvious Colin, and relying on a journalist to be your source of expertise is irresponsible to say the least. As for the psychiatrist with 30 years of experience, I think you should ask him why we have not seen the same increase with mental illness rates as we've seen with cannabis use among the youth in the last 30 years or more? Because there is no definitive link between cannabis use and mental illness, that's why. [continues 191 words]
Editor, The News: Re: MLA wants stronger rules for medical marijuana (The News, May 18). Marc Dalton , you fail to mention that the very reason we have these types of violent crimes being committed against permit holders is because we already have an over-regulated system, and it's called prohibition. If we were to implement a legalized and regulated system for cannabis similar to alcohol, we could let an open and competitive market bring down the over-inflated prices we now have with cannabis on the streets. [continues 162 words]
Re. "Two nabbed in 'vicious attack'" (Chief, March 11), I have to ask Cpl. Peter DeVries to stop lying about cannabis and to tell the truth as to what is really behind these types of acts. Prohibition is the only reason cannabis has reached these dangerous levels of value, and with such a huge price tag attached to a single pound of cannabis, one can only assume violence will eventually become part of the equation. If the individual is allowed to grow and consume his or her own cannabis, the huge price tag will be eroded to a more comprehensible level, thereby eliminating the attraction to violently steal this product from others, ultimately eliminating the violence Peter DeVries is blaming on cannabis and the current industry surrounding it. I am saddened by these types of acts, but I'm even more saddened by the law enforcement officials like Peter DeVries that are promoting lies in the name of prohibition. Todd Lumley Sarnia, Ont. [end]
Sir: I would like to address the medical use of cannabis. I can't believe there are still people out there who won't accept this plant as medicine, in particular law enforcement, which is being totally controlled by the Conservative government at the taxpayers' expense. A current Maclean's magazine poll shows 93 per cent of the general public to be in support of the medical use of cannabis, while the current government wants to squash the entire Health Canada program by sicing the police on to licensed people so they can prove the program is being abused. [continues 178 words]
