JUST NATURE'S WAY OF SAYING HI

In the Sept. 8 edition of The News, Ruth Smith reported that five
years ago, "Three helicopters and their crews from CFB Edmonton and 60
RCMP offers from Nanaimo, Oceanside, Courtenay and Campbell River
destroyed over 8,000 marijuana plants in the Central Island, Gulf
Islands and Powell River areas."

On Sept. 5, Neil Horner reported that the RCMP's annual wacky tabacky
whirly bird roundup roped 16,500 marijuana plants.

Let me make a logical projection based on these reports.

Assuming that our gutless politicians leave the lunatic prohibition
laws in place, thus assuring the colossal waste of law enforcement
resources, the enrichment of biker gangs and the clogging of courts
and prisons with marijuana growers and users, I predict that five
years from now, The News will report the RCMP's so-called success in
rounding up at least 32,000 marijuana plants.

This continued insanity may yet drive me to smoke that stuff some
describe as nature's way of saying hi.

W.L.M. Wilson

Qualicum Beach