Four RCMP constables are in body bags, and our government must take full responsibility. MPs like Randy White who push the failed war-on-pot agenda have helped create this situation where growing a weed-like plant leads to violence. Our government must move to end the unjust war against the peaceful cannabis community or there will just be more bloodshed. Norm Siefken Chilliwack [end]
Dear Editor, I was appalled at the opinion submitted by Pastor Grant McDowell in the Oct. 24 edition of the Leduc Rep -- What does compassion look like? McDowell's opinion is simply an endorsement of today's outdated drug laws, wrapped in a religious shroud. As a fellow Christian I respectfully disagree. After Jesus gathered his disciples and started teaching his first sermon taught us to "judge not, lest ye be judged." If Jesus were here today he would be standing on the truth, as he taught us to do. [continues 132 words]
To the editor: Regarding Cst. Al Arsenault ("Odd Squad cop back on hot seat over e-mail," July 14), I believe the Charter rights of Mr. Arsenault should be respected. I also attended the IDEAS conference, but as a protester. I smoked lots of awesome weed and I spoke out against the intolerant message of the IDEAS crowd. Hosting IDEAS in "Vansterdam" was about as brilliant as hosting a KKK rally at a reggae festival. Mostly, I smoked weed and socialized with my activist brethren. [continues 76 words]
Editor: Re: Cops declare war on weed I was disappointed to read that Mayor Hames is throwing another $320,000 into that bottomless money pit called the war on pot. Sadly, this is only the tip of the financial iceberg. The new Green Team will generate hundreds of new cases, and taxpayers will get stuck with the tab for prosecuting the pot gardeners in our overburdened courts. Many growers are on welfare, so the taxpayers will pay the defence costs as well. When jail time is ordered the cost to taxpayers is about $70,000 per year to incarcerate each marijuana inmate. The true cost of Hames' decision is many millions of scarce public dollars being wasted for another futile attempt to suppress B.C.'s cannabis culture. This one won't succeed either. Where did our government learn to set priorities? Wake up Mayor Hames, 80 per cent of B.C. wants decriminalization. Let's overgrow the government. Chilliwack [end]
Re: M.P. Keith Martin's "decriminalization" of cannabis The House of Commons is planning a vote on marijuana "decriminalization" in 2002. Many marijuana users believe they will be free to enjoy a joint without any police harassment if Bill C-344 becomes law. They are sadly mistaken. Alliance M.P. Keith Martin is blowing smoke and hot air with his Bill C-344. Martin's bill is an insult to the majority which wants an end to the costly and ineffective weed war. Bill C-344 does not mean the war on pot will end. [continues 331 words]
Re Doctors raise marijuana alarm, Aug 14. How soon we forget. Four months ago, the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) strongly endorsed decriminalization of marijuana for adults. It said marijuana has "minimal negative" health effects when used in moderation. Its message was clear: Let adults decide for themselves if they want to use pot for medical or recreational purposes. Doctors know that marijuana is essentially harmless when compared to alcohol. Alcohol keeps the emergency rooms busy, especially on weekends. Accidents, fights and spousal abuse are the most common alcohol-related cases, and this is seldom seen with marijuana users. The pot smoker is more likely to do some damage to a bag of potato chips. [continues 90 words]
I had to chuckle when I read Guy Bennett's column. I suspect a few Growbuster cops said "I'll drink to that" when they read this splendid example of Reefer Madness. People like Guy Bennett who endorse the weed war are becoming a small but noisy minority. Fortunately for all of us, most British Columbians are against the continued supression of B.C.'s biggest cash crop. Pot is way safer than alcohol and everybody knows it. The millions of Canadians who prefer pot instead of booze have made a very healthy choice and that choice must be respected. [continues 68 words]
To the editor: Re: "Penalties for pot growers rising" Mar. 5 Capital News. It was sickening to read that the RCMP are obediently bowing down to their American puppet masters and escalating the war on pot in Kelowna. They should listen to the people of B.C. instead. Seventy per cent favour ending this war against adults who prefer cannabis instead of booze. $65,000 per year is wasted to incarcerate just one marijuana offender. Right now thousands of people are on waiting lists for operations and medical scans. We are told that the money just isn't there to run health care properly. Yet our government can waste millions of dollars every day to continue this dopey war on pot. How many billions more will be wasted before they realize that "victory" is an illusion? [continues 64 words]
RE: "DRUG traffic gets busted both ways," Jan. 27. It was unsettling to read that the Hinton Mounties are now bragging about swiping cash from innocent citizens on our highways. This type of policing for profit has been tried in the U.S. and is now facing a public and political backlash. "Possession of money" charges are the latest examples of Canadian authorities borrowing failed tactics from America's dopey war on drugs. It is the ultimate victimless crime in our capitalist society. [continues 63 words]
Dear Editor: I must tip my hat to The Herald for giving fair coverage to Kings-Hants byelection candidate Alex Neron of the Marijuana Party. I'll even give you a high five. Sadly, many newspapers will ignore so-called "third party" candidates, even when they speak for a majority of the population. Mr. Neron speaks for the millions of Canadians who prefer marijuana instead of alcohol. He also speaks for millions more who do not smoke the herb, but believe that the war on pot is an unjust and expensive war which must be ended. Thank you for listening and informing your readers of Mr. Neron's viewpoint. Norm Siefken, Fraser Valley (B.C.) candidate, Marijuana Party of Canada [end]
Re: Times Upfront (Aug 1,2000) It is rare to find all of the prevailing myths about marijuana concisely summarized in one article. I noticed years ago that the so-called "facts" about marijuana's alleged dangers are the world's largest collection of lies, half-truths, and gross exaggerations. The truth is that marijuana is basically harmless when compared to alcohol and cigarettes. The average alcoholic dies at age 53, but marijuana has never killed anybody. Watching alcohol users criticize marijuana users is a case study in hypocrisy. [continues 122 words]
Even The Lancet- a conservative medical journal-reported in 1995 that "the use of cannabis, even long term use, is not harmful to health." They later modified this position by adding that chronic use can contribute to bronchitis. Is that really so scary? The unpopular marijuana laws are costing Canadians dearly. Cancelling the war on pot will save $3 billion. Additionally, our party will use the $20 billion from marijuana sales taxes to fund massive income tax relief while restoring cuts to health and education. A National Post poll earlier this year showed that 2/3 of Canadians already want decriminalization. The democratic will of the people must be respected. Norm Siefken, Fraser Valley Candidate, Marijuana Party of Canada [end]
Thank-you for reporting the injustice done to John Kinsey, the man who prefers to use marijuana instead of morphine for his back injury ("Probation for pot." June 21.) This case underscores the urgent need to reform our outdated marijuana laws. Obviously prescription morphine is much more dangerous and addictive than marijuana. Kinsey made a perfectly rational choice and certainly does not deserve probation or any other criminal penalties. Even the judge admitted that "there doesn't appear to be a victim. Norm Siefken (Marijuana should be made available by prescription.) [end]
I would like to express my support for Alan Randell, the Victoria gentleman who criticized Mayor Halsey-Brandt's hard-line position on marijuana growers. Randell is among the majority of Canadians who support marijuana legalization for adults, and his argument made perfect sense. If we simply allow adults to grow their own marijuana outdoors then grow-houses will quickly become a thing of the past. It makes perfect sense. The RCMP and the government must take full responsibility for all of the fires and other real estate damage caused by indoor marijuana cultivation. They forced the growers to go indoors and that caused the whole problem in the first place. [continues 79 words]
Dear Editor: Several recent articles in the print media have suggested that the war on marijuana is escalating. I wish to express my outrage over this irresponsible waste of scarce resources. At this very moment thousands of patients with cancer and heart disease are being forced to wait for essential surgeries due to inadequate health care funding. Canadians are being told that the money just isn't there, yet there is plenty of cash for "green teams", snitches, prisons, helicopters and the other excesses of a never-ending war on marijuana. [continues 158 words]
Re: "Swiss Plan not working" (Fri. 19 Nov. 1999) I would like to disagree with the intolerant position taken by Lois Thompson of TREADS and the dubious "facts" she uses to support this position. The group advocates "stiffer penalties" and seems overly concerned about marijuana use. TREADS should respect the fact that many British Columbians prefer marijuana instead of legal alcohol. Members of our "cannabis culture" have made a very healthy choice when compared to those who become alcoholics. The only person ever killed by marijuana was the farm worker who died when a large bale of hemp fell on his head. While alcoholism brings violence and ruins families, marijuana use brings peace and enlightenment to its users. [continues 161 words]
It really bothers me to see the school board attacking BC's lenient marijuana laws ["They protest," At the school board table, October 30]. I have found in the past that people who criticize marijuana users are often hypocritical users of a much more harmful substance: legal alcohol. As an emergency medical worker for 20 years, I have seen many overdose victims, including those from alcohol. Excessive drinking can lead to coma and death, but I have never seen anyone overdose on cannabis, nor have I found any such cases in the medical journals. [continues 153 words]
Living with a severely debilitating disease is bad enough. The RCMP and the federal government should have some sympathy and leave this patient alone. Maybe he does get a "high" from the pot, but so do the millions of patients who use prescription medications every day. If this is a battle in the war-on-drugs then the ongoing persecution of Krieger appears to be a war crime. Watching the wheelchair-bound Krieger drag himself through the courts, I find myself asking a question: Is this how human beings are supposed to treat each other? Norm Siefken [end]
As an emergency medical worker (X-ray Tech.) for 20 years I have seen many overdose victims, including alcohol overdoses. Excessive drinking can lead to coma and death, but I have never seen anyone O.D. on cannabis, nor have I found any such cases in the medical journals. The impact of alcohol in Emergency Departments is well known. We see drunk driving accidents and fatalities on a regular basis. A lot of violent behavior such as fights and spousal abuse is triggered by drinking. Chronic legal alcohol use leads to many horrible diseases such as cirrhosis of the liver. [continues 182 words]
