The federal government loves its hobby programs, especially anything promoting its punitive approach. The expansion of power is facilitated by the war on "fill in the blank," whereby citizens paralyzed with fear, as propagated by would-be federal saviours, clamour for protection. In the past century alone, we have had, at a minimum, wars on cancer, crime, poverty and terror. After more than 40 years of the war on drugs, an endless list of individuals have been jailed for possessing drugs deemed illegal by government. [continues 130 words]
Re: "'Nanaimo RCMP link huge drug bust to notorious gang' ( Daily News, Jan. 18) The Canadian and B.C. governments claim to be making ground in the war on drugs, but a quick look at the estimates of regional cocaine flows suggests this is only a fraction of the amount which passes through America into this country. These so-called drug busts are heralded as a trophies in the struggle which authorities are waging against drug trafficking. Such self-congratulatory acts may not be entirely warranted. If the percentage of seizures are applied to the United Nations Office on Drugs and the RCMP'S crime estimates that some 165 metric tonnes of cocaine is consumed in North America annually, it could mean around 143.55 tonnes of the drug pass into the U.S. and Canada annually. [continues 51 words]
Re: 12 kg of coke found in car (News, Jan. 11) The Canadian and B.C. governments claim to be making ground in the war on drugs, but a quick look at the estimates of regional cocaine flows suggests this is only a fraction of the amount which passes through America into the country. These so-called drug busts are heralded as a trophies in the struggle which authorities are waging against drug trafficking. Such self-congratulatory acts may not be entirely warranted. If the percentage of seizures are applied to the United Nations Office on Drugs and the RCMP's crime estimates that some 165 metric tons of cocaine is consumed in North America annually, it could mean around 143.55 tons of the drug pass into the U.S. and Canada annually. The claims thus represent a drop in an Olympic size swimming pool of cocaine and has only worsened in recent years. This is unlikely to change in the future, as the governments are notoriously in denial. Maybe it is time for a re-think? William Perry Victoria [end]
The Canadian and B.C. governments claim to making ground in the war on drugs, but a quick look at the estimates of regional cocaine flows suggests this is only a fraction of the amount which passes through America into the country. These so-called "drug busts" are heralded as a trophies in the struggle authorities are waging against drug trafficking. However, such self-congratulatory acts may not be entirely warranted. If the percentage of seizures are applied to the United Nations Office on Drugs and the RCMP's crime estimates that some 165 metric tons of cocaine is consumed in North America annually, it would mean that around 143 tons of the drug pass through Honduras into the U.S.A and Canada, potentially, annually. [continues 69 words]
Drugs should be legalized, taxed, and regulated. Outlawing drugs promotes organized crime by providing revenue generating avenues such as drug production, trafficking, and distribution. The demand for illegal drugs is extremely high. This assures an endless drug supply that governments have been ineffective in stopping. The Canadian government spends tremendous amounts of money each year in efforts to stop illegal drug activities. The legalization of drugs provides tax revenue for the government, ensures drugs are safer and eliminates a major source of organized crime revenue. [continues 159 words]
Re: Ex-mayors call for end to pot prohibition, Nov. 24 Richard Nixon declared a "war" on drugs in 1970. Since then we have spent over a trillion dollars arresting, trying, and incarcerating North Americans. The result? Drugs are now cheaper and more plentiful than ever. And our civil liberties are more vulnerable than ever. Little has changed over the last 40 years. Police chiefs across the country, come equipped with an array of statistics and PowerPoint presentations in the attempt to increase their budgets, but instead demonstrate their wasted effort and wasted money of the four decade-long drug war: In 1970, four million North Americans (U.S. and Canada) had used drugs; today it's 114 million. [continues 128 words]
As a former police officer I am a supporter of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, an international organization of criminal justice professionals who bear personal witness to the wasteful futility and harms of our current drug policies. Our combined experience on the front lines of the "war on drugs" has led us to call for a repeal of prohibition and its replacement with a tight system of legalized regulation, which will cripple the violent cartels and street dealers who control the current illegal market. William Perry, Victoria [end]
Prohibition doesn't work; in fact, it has cost more than it was worth. In the last 40 years, we've spent significant amounts of money to control the growing and sale of marijuana. It costs a lot to arrest, prosecute, and send them to prison. We need to simply legalize the drug, regulate it and tax it. Such a move would reduce the number of police officers assigned for enforcement, eliminate a huge number of prison beds allocated for drug offenders and add dollars to the public coffers. Legalizing marijuana would be one way to pay off the $2.2-billion shortfall caused by scrapping the Harmonized Sales Tax. William Perry Victoria [end]
Pay off the HST shortfall with marijuana. Prohibition doesn't work, in fact has cost more than it was worth. In the last 40 years, we've spent significant amounts of money to control the growing and sale of, arrest, prosecute, and send marijuana dealers to the joint, as it were. Imagine the cost to society and to families affected. Simply legalize the drug, regulate it and tax it. Such a move would reduce the number of police officers used for enforcement, eliminate a huge number of prison beds allocated for drug offenders and add dollars to the public coffers. Legalize, regulate, consume and tax marijuana. It's one way to pay off the $2.2 billion shortfall caused by scrapping the HST. William Perry Victoria [end]
In the world of federal politics, the prohibition on drugs extends to talking about them as well as taking them. For any politician with ambition, the issue is simply out of bounds, which makes a radical rethink of our approach to drugs a challenge. Drug prohibition is the true cause of much of the social and personal damage that has historically been attributed to drug use. It is prohibition that makes illegal drugs expensive, while giving criminals a monopoly over their supply. Driven by the huge profits, criminal gangs bribe and kill each other, law enforcers and children. Their trade is unregulated and they are beyond our control. [continues 177 words]
The U.S-style "war on drugs" adopted by Canada continues to receive millions in funding every year, not because of its successes, but rather its failures. Because the government is the distributor of alcohol, cocaine and heroin are focused on. Despite all the lives that have been destroyed and all the money so poorly spent, today illicit drugs are cheaper, more potent and easier to get than they were 35 years ago. All this seriously questions the increase in police, judges, probation and parole officers, and soon more prisons and correctional officers. [continues 68 words]
Statistics Canada may name Abbotsford as Canada's murder capital, however, the entire province must share this honour. Why? Essentially because provincial anti-crime initiatives have failed. There are more illegal drugs and weapons on the streets, more gangs and members, less convictions with less individuals behind bars. All the money thrown at special units such as anti-gang units, etc. have little to show for the multi-millions of dollars spent each year. Isn't it time to decriminalize weed? Like online gambling and alcohol, the government could generate billions, redirecting resources to fight addictions which will end the drug trade. Enforcement's focus would change, and B.C. would make substantial gains against crime. William Perry [end]
Statistics Canada may have identified Abbotsford as Canada's murder capital, however the entire province must share this honour because provincial anti-crime initiatives have failed. There are more illegal drugs and weapons on the streets, more gangs and fewer convictions. All the money thrown at special efforts such as anti-gang units have little to show for the millions of dollars spent each year. Maybe it is time for a different approach. The key policy question concerns the best approach to combat crime. [continues 106 words]
Editor, the Times: I find it troubling that the courts and law enforcement have such a low opinion of individuals that they label them as 'organized crime' yet consider informants as trustworthy, reliable and creditable. Informants are not held in high esteem, so they are generally protected, by being segregated in prison or, if they are not incarcerated, relocated under a new identity. Our criminal justice system has turned into a 'snitchery,' a wholesale reliance on the worst people, with the meanest of motives, to secure justice for all. [continues 244 words]
Re: "RCMP expect to destroy 30,000 marijuana plants," Sept. 2. The province might want to ask the RCMP to hold off burning any of the expected 30,000 marijuana plants. The street value of one joint is $5. That makes those 30,000 plants or three million joints worth $15 million. Amend the laws around the plant, the government can license growers, then sell it through the Liquor Distribution Branch under "local products." There is a nice tidy sum to spend on whatever the government wishes, like law enforcement initiatives that make sense. William Perry Victoria [end]
With the Supreme Court of Canada unanimously concluding that a federal law was wrong to order the forfeiture of Judy Ann Craig's home, the way is clear for others to challenge the seizure of assets, such as the Hells Angels Nanaimo clubhouse. This is the beginning of the end of this unfair law. Civil forfeiture laws, in my opinion, create a "reverse-onus" requiring defendants to prove they did not gain the asset from unlawful activity. Examinations for discovery are conducted and cases are decided on the civil standard of proof -- the balance of probabilities -- rather than the higher criminal standard, beyond a reasonable doubt. [continues 175 words]
Re: Police target drug traffickers across CRD, News, May 22, 2009. Funny, back in March, Victoria police Chief Jamie Graham said it was alcohol and alcohol abuse that was Victoria's number No. 1 problem. Never mind, he says, it's drugs now. Regardless of tough words, we have come to expect a low standard of policing, with less than convincing, or even coherent, justification of the need for increased staffing and funding. Despite growing criticism in some circles, the war on drugs remains a given for the vast majority of Victorians. It has, in some ways, been a model for local government programs, continuing not due to success, but because of its failure. [continues 51 words]
To the Editor, British Columbia's Civil Forfeiture Office maintains that the legislation does not, by any means, allow police or the government to arbitrarily seize lawful property, and that proceeds from successful civil forfeiture proceedings are used to compensate victims and for crime prevention and remediation activities across the province. In my opinion, the creation of this 'reverse-onus' requires defendants to prove they did not gain the asset from unlawful activity. Examinations for discovery are conducted and cases are decided on the civil standard of proof - the balance of probabilities - rather than the higher criminal standard, beyond a reasonable doubt. [continues 155 words]
Re: Victoria's top cop vows to catch drug dealers (News, May 22) Funny, back in March, Victoria police Chief Jamie Graham said it was alcohol and alcohol abuse that was Victoria's number No. 1 problem. Never mind, he says, it's drugs now. Regardless of tough words, we have come to expect a low standard of policing, with less than convincing, or even coherent, justification of the need for increased staffing and funding. Despite growing criticism in some circles, the war on drugs remains a given for the vast majority of Victorians. It has, in some ways, been a model for local government programs, continuing not due to success, but because of its failure. [continues 128 words]
Many urban legends exist about bikers, creating this "rebel image," sometimes romanticized, mostly exaggerated by special interest groups, which is eaten up by the public. A public with an insatiable appetite for sensational entertainment, who have an image in their head and want validation of that the image. The Hells Angels are an easy target. It is not fair that a select few have their rights violated, including those prohibiting "arbitrary detention" and guaranteeing "security of the person." It is wrong to continue holding private property under civil forfeiture laws. It would be absurd to tell a person that he has the right to his life and liberty -- but that the government (or anyone) can seize his property or dictate what he can do with it. Without private property rights, all other rights are empty, and there is nothing in principle to stop governments from committing or legalizing theft. William Perry Victoria [end]
