LETTER OF THE WEEK

SEED SELLER AND SENATOR STIR THE POT IN THE DEBATE ABOUT ILLEGAL DRUGS

By Charles Marxer

Re: Canada shirks its duty in Prince of Pot case, Editorial, Jan. 16

This editorial got the point exactly right: Canada has exposed its
feckless and incoherent approach to drug enforcement. When laws are
enforced inconsistently and therefore unfairly, citizens become
contemptuous of the law and of the government -- very unhealthy for a
democracy. Add to this the obvious fact that, in this case, the
Canadian government has allowed another government to dictate
judgment and (overly harsh) sentence, and we are all left with a very
ugly taste in the mouth.

Marc Emery was allowed to carry on with his marijuana seed
distribution business because the Canadian authorities know the
public does not regard the activity as a crime nor the end use of the
weed as particularly harmful. If it weren't for pressure from the
U.S., Canada would have decriminalized pot possession and selling
seeds years ago. It is time for Canada to reclaim its justice system,
expel the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration officials from
Canadian soil, pardon Emery, and proceed with long-overdue
liberalization of its drug control laws.

Charles Marxer, White Rock

Pubdate: Mon, 28 Jan 2008

Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)

Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n055/a09.html