POT GROWER'S PUNISHMENT COULD HAVE BEEN MORE FITTING

Re: Marijuana grower forfeits mortgage-free $600,000 home, Aug. 15

What will happen to Roy Sundstrom and his wife now that Judge Carol
Baird Ellan has ruled they must forfeit their home for growing marijuana?

With his prostate cancer and her fibromyalgia, I'm guessing they
probably aren't eligible for regular employment.

Do they have anywhere to live now or any other source of income or
are they going to have to apply for welfare so the B.C. taxpayer can
support them?

Now, if Sundstrom had been trafficking to organized crime and/or
kids, I'd have no sympathy for him.

However, it would seem more just to put his expertise to work growing
medicinal marijuana for the thousands of people who need it.

His operation could be taxed at a rate in keeping with the community
service he would be providing and the proceeds could help to fund
mental health services, drug rehabilitation, housing -- or maybe even
the recent salary increases given to B.C. government bureaucrats.

Liz Stonard

Port Alberni