POLICE WASTE TIME ON 'POT FARMERS'

It has been reported that the RCMP are driving around the back roads of the
Valley with their windows open. Their intent is to smell out marijuana
grow operations. One of these operations was sniffed out over the course
of several days.

Sgt. Dwayne Wetteland is quoted as saying, "Some of us have colds and we
all wear parkas." A loaded hand gun was found when officers raided the
house on Okanagan Centre Road East.

In Vernon, with the average cost of a police officer being $84,000 each a
year, I can't help thinking what a waste of manpower and resources this is.

The legalization of marijuana would save the taxpayers a fortune in
policing costs and the $250,000 worth of crop that was destroyed could have
gone into our local economy. Legalization would also eliminate an
otherwise law abiding person from keeping a hand gun for protection.

Most taxpayers couldn't care less about the arrest of "pot farmers." While
the police are driving around out in the toolies, real crimes are going on
right here in town.

The CMHA had their property stolen, a gunman held up a gas station. I'd
like to see front-page stories on arrests made in these cases. I'd like to
hear that the police had the thieves in custody who stole my son's tools
out of my shed. My neighbour's house was broken into in broad daylight;
all their meat was stolen from their freezer. Cops, catch these guys, then
you can brag.

Politics keeps deadly booze outlets protected, while marijuana is
persecuted to the fullest extent of the law. All I can ask the powers that
be is, why?

Ron R. Miller, Vernon