POT OF GOLD

Whistler, B.C. -- I am amazed that a government that claims it doesn't have enough money for proper health care and education continues to ignore the billions of dollars of untapped revenue that could be garnered from the legalization of pot (Super Pot: B.C.'s Bonanza -- Focus, Jan. 29). This refusal to face the issue has created a nation of tax-evading bootleggers and a political environment that fosters organized crime.

Marketing boards are a lot cheaper than law enforcement. Pot will continue to be grown, sold and smoked, like it or not. Remember Prohibition? The issue here is who should be doing the growing, farmers or biker gangs? And who should be profitting, the country as a whole or organized crime? Pot is here to stay: Admit it, tax it.