NEW DRUG LAWS 'GUARANTEED TO FAIL'

Re: Harper's Misguided War On Pot, editorial, Nov. 23.

The Conservatives say the proposed mandatory minimum prison sentences
for growing, possessing and trafficking marijuana are aimed at
organized crime, but when I went to the Canadian government's own Web
site dedicated to organized crime ( www.organizedcrime.ca ), I was
surprised to see the definition of that term: "Serious crime planed
and carried out by a group of at least three people to benefit one or
more members of the group."

Does this mean that under the proposed changes to the Controlled Drugs
and Substances Act, a pot smoker, the seller and anyone they know - a
friend, spouse, co-worker, roommate - could be considered part of
organized crime, and therefore subject to even longer jail terms?

Don't think that only dealers, and not users, will be imprisoned. My
husband, Marc Emery, was sentenced to three months in prison for
"trafficking" marijuana - he passed a joint to a friend. That means
every Canadian who smokes marijuana with someone else can go to
prison. It seems our government would love to see that happen.

Jodie Emery, Vancouver