In Canada, Bill S-10 Will Turn Users into Hardened Criminals Like many other police officers, I have witnessed the tragedy of the HIV epidemic firsthand. It is one thing to read the statistics demonstrating the connection between illicit drug use and HIV; it is another matter entirely to patrol the streets, day in and day out, repeatedly arresting men and women infected with HIV. Our country has one of the finest health-care systems in the world, but our laws surrounding drug use result in unnecessary disease and death. [continues 674 words]
Like many other police officers, I have witnessed the tragedy of the HIV epidemic first hand. It is one thing to read the statistics demonstrating the connection between illicit drug use and HIV; it is another matter entirely to patrol the streets, day in and day out, repeatedly arresting men and women infected with the HIV virus. Our country has one of the finest health-care systems in the world, but our laws surrounding drug use result in unnecessary disease and death. [continues 711 words]
To the editor: Kelowna RCMP Supt. Bill McKinnon recently held a press conference in which he expressed frustration with the sentencing of people involved in marijuana production operations (Kelowna Captial News, June 8). The timing of this media briefing was interesting; legislation regarding mandatory minimum sentences for grow-ops is currently before Parliament. Like Supt. McKinnon, I am a police officer in British Columbia. I express my views on drug policy while off-duty and out of uniform by volunteering with Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. [continues 110 words]
Deputy Prosecutor Rick Damerville testified at the recent committee meeting on marijuana decriminalization held by the Hawaii County Council. During his presentation against the resolution, he trumpeted the words of King James I, who in 1604 issued a proclamation about the health hazards of tobacco. What Mr. Damerville neglected to mention was that the king did not throw people in jail for possessing a substance used by consenting adults. Such a policy would have filled the jails and reduced productivity across the land. Instead, he took a wiser course. He educated his subjects about the dangers of tobacco and he regulated and controlled its use by applying tax rates as high as six shillings and 10 pence per imported pound. [continues 130 words]
Why Is The Vancouver Police Department Trying To Manipulate The Senate Of Canada? On December 8, one day before a key vote, the department issued a statement opposing minor amendments to Bill C-15. The proposed law would create mandatory minimum sentences for certain drug offences. Numerous policy experts have criticized the bill, stating that it will do nothing to address the crime, addiction, disease, and death generated by the black market for illegal drugs. A Senate committee studied the legislation and suggested a few modest changes. Inspector Brad Desmarais responded by announcing the amendments would "create a huge industry" of small marijuana grows designed to skirt the mandatory minimums. [continues 623 words]
I was saddened to hear of U.S. newscaster Walter Cronkite's death at the age of 92, as reported July 18. He was known for his coverage of the Vietnam War. He understood the futility of that conflict and his voice rang out loud and clear against it. In response, President Lyndon Johnson was reported to have said, "If I've lost Cronkite, I've lost Middle America." However, this was not the only war that Cronkite realized was unwinnable. On March 1, 2006, he wrote: "And I cannot help but wonder how many more lives, and how much more money, will be wasted before another Robert McNamara admits what is plain for all to see: The war on drugs is a failure." [continues 71 words]
Darcey McLaughlin made a strong argument in favour of legalizing marijuana in his July 1 column, but he didn't go far enough. I'm a Canadian police officer who supports gradually legalizing and regulating all drugs. This includes marijuana as well as ecstasy, heroin and other substances. The argument in favour of legalizing these drugs is not that they are beneficial or fun, but rather that drugs are so dangerous they need to be regulated and controlled by the government. Under prohibition the government has no control. [continues 184 words]
I am a police officer who supports incremental change toward the legalization and regulation of all drugs. This includes marijuana, heroin, cocaine and other substances. I do not condone drug abuse, nor breaking the law. But some laws are counterproductive and in this respect it is time for an honest discussion about Canada's drug laws. Drug prohibition is an important domestic and foreign policy issue because its effects are so varied and far-reaching. For example, international forces are spending enormous sums of money to destroy the poppy fields of Afghani farmers. Yet destroying some fields only serves to increase the black market value of the remaining crops. This increases the domestic price of heroin, resulting in addicts who break into our cars and homes in order to pay for the exorbitant costs of their daily fix. [continues 501 words]
Re: "Keeping pot illegal leads to bad brew," Rob Breakenridge, Opinion, April 28. I agree with many of Rob Breakenridge's arguments. From my perspective as a police officer, it is clear that organized crime groups reap enormous tax-free profits from their monopoly over the supply of illegal drugs. Also, there is no legitimate dispute resolution mechanism for drug dealers. The predictable result is sporadic, intense violence over control of the black market. This does not happen when harmful substances are legal but regulated. When was the last time you saw the managers of two neighbourhood pubs shooting at each other in the streets? [continues 123 words]
Dear Editor: Regarding columnist Wallace Craig's March 4 column Drug Legalization Lobby Lacks Business Plan that opposed drug regulation: I am neither a narcissistic marijuana user nor a psychosocial hard drug abuser. I am, in fact, a member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. The membership of this non-profit organization consists of police officers, judges, prosecutors and other criminal justice professionals. We seek to reduce crime, death, disease and addiction by gradually ending drug prohibition. My views, of course, do not represent those of my employer. But they are shared by many Canadians who look to our southern neighbour and understand that the "war on drugs" is a public policy disaster. [continues 200 words]
