WHEN LAWS ARE HELD IN CONTEMPT, WE ALL SUFFER

When pro-marijuana advocates gathered in downtown Vancouver recently
to smoke pot in defiance of the law, many puzzled citizens wondered
why the police took no action against them.

The answer, of course, is not that the law is redundant, but that it
has been brought into contempt by the unwillingness of our society to
enforce it.

As John Winter, president of the B.C. Chamber of Commerce, told The
Province editorial board: "In a perfect world, the police would have
dealt with them with some severity, but the fact is the police don't
have the support of the community."

"Somewhere, we've stopped using our common sense," said Winter.
"Without respect for the system, we risk damaging our international
reputation."

We agree. The issue is not about getting high. It's about whether we
live in a democracy or an anarchy.