WHO BENEFITS FROM LAW?

Re: "City going too far," editorial on the City of Coquitlam's public safety
inspection team, Wednesday, May 7.

You say that "Pot, however, is not legal. And illegal grow-ops pose a
huge fire hazard."

If only that were true.

The public has been sold a bill of goods on the grow-op issue. It is
not as dangerous as so-called "experts" (who have probably never
planted a seed or picked up a trowel in their lives) claim it to be.

It is mostly political rhetoric designed to help keep marijuana
unpopular.

However, I guess if you repeat a lie often enough, it will stick in
the public consciousness.

For example, how does it jive with the line from Health Canada? Their
medical marijuana growing guidelines give grow-op safety a passing
mention.

Thousands of legal grow-ops are in every community in this country and
there is no epidemic of fires.

In fact, warrant-less inspection bylaws have encouraged people to
become more secretive, which accounts for fewer being found.

Generators, Mylar shielding and the increasing use of low-power,
low-heat LED technology will only increase this trend.

There is as much cannabis for sale on the streets as ever. The
question that should be asked is, "Who is benefiting from these bylaws?"

And just how close are their connections to the current powers -- the
police and politicians?

And to the larger issue of legalization, it looks like the bikers and
the government are on the same side, protecting each other, when they
ignore the polls and keep this ridiculous law in place.

Tim Meehan

Patients Against Ignorance and Discrimination on Cannabis

Ottawa, Ont.