STORY ON LEGAL HALLUCINOGEN REPEATS POLICE PROPAGANDA

It seems from the story Legal hallucinogen concerns police (SP, Dec.
21), that The SP has a troubling habit of succumbing to reefer madness.

Why is the SP so ready to print police lobbying? I thought police
were paid to enforce the law, not lobby for changes based on moral judgments.

Sgt. Jerome Engele says that stores shouldn't be selling a legal
hallucinogen to anyone and that its legality is a problem. Engele is
lobbying for a change to the law even though his organization admits
that police have not had any problems with Salvia divinorum to date.

I suppose he would have greater justification for the existence of
his position in the Saskatoon Police Service were there yet another
drug to keep from people -- perhaps he would even get a pay hike or
more funding.

The point is that the police lobby for change that benefits police.
Should this not be questioned and properly countered? As much as I
respect Kerry Kunka as a local business owner and a person of sound
intelligence, I don't think he is held to the same standards in the
public eye as a police "expert" is.

Someone wrote some time ago that The StarPhoenix risked becoming
irrelevant and by printing one-sided propaganda such as this. I fear
that risk has been realized.

Ethan Erkiletian

VP, Sask. Marijuana Party

Saskatoon