POT PROBLEM NOT BEING SOLVED

The Editor,

Re. "Program is working" (Opinion, The Tri-City News, May
9).

The arguments in The Tri-City News' editorial in support of continuing
the inspection program aimed at marijuana grow ops are less than
persuasive, to say the least.

* Where is the evidence that the 88 grow ops discovered as a result of
this program have not simply re-located to another part of the city
rather than moving elsewhere away from their customers?

* Now that the marijuana growers know hydro consumption is being
monitored, they will quickly learn how to bypass the meters and get
their electricity free. Oh well, perhaps marijuana costs will come
down somewhat as a result.

* Your assertion that the program does not cost taxpayers a dime is
ridiculous - unless the staff involved are working for nothing.
Overall costs may not be increasing but that does not mean the program
is cost-free. Other staff activities that would have otherwise been
carried out will now be cancelled or postponed for lack of funds.

* The huge elephant in the room that you seem to miss is that the
government is powerless to put a dent in the marijuana trade because
so many people use the stuff. Human nature being what it is, if
marijuana were legalized, the government would be unable to suppress a
resulting huge increase in any of the remaining illegal drugs such as
heroin, cocaine and meth. Prohibition never works. Never has, never
will.

Alan Randell,
Victoria