LET'S NOT LOWER OUR STANDARDS

RE: 'It's time to decriminalize the possession of marijuana' (May
24). A recent editorial stated that both the local chiefs of police,
and even Joe Clark, are advocating the decriminalization of
marijuana. This is a pathetic testimony to how low we are.

The basic argument of this editorial was that it was too much trouble
for the chiefs of police to bust people for simple possession of
cannabis. It said decriminalization would free up resources for other
programs. In essence, the editorial stated that if a law is difficult
to enforce, then we should just get rid of it.

Hey, why not get rid of speeding laws while we are at it? After all,
nobody follows them either. We use up so many precious police
resources by enforcing speeding violations. Next, we could get rid of
laws about driving under the influence, or murder, and free up even
more police. People don't follow those laws either, and the penalty
for breaking these laws is tougher than that for possession of
marijuana.

The point is that every time we, as a society, decide that a law is
pointless just because people don't follow it, we lower our
standards. This allows for the questioning of the next "useless" law
to begin.

- -- Dan Cope, Stoney Creek.