TEEN PUZZLED BY POLICE ACTION

To the Editor:

Open letter for Nelson City Police Detective Sgt. Steve
Bank.

I am a 16-year-old girl and have lived in Nelson for a total of 11
years. Nelson is, no doubt in my mind, a very unique town. It could
be Nelson's clash of cultures, diversity of people, or just its
secluded location that makes Nelson, Nelson.

Recently, the local culture shop, Holy Smoke, was raided by the city
police. It's no mystery as to what was being sold there, but it's
been a thriving business for as long as I can remember.

I have one question, why?

Why would the police decide all of a sudden to raid the culture shop?
What is being achieved by raiding Holy Smoke? The alleged drugs
involved in the investigation were marijuana and hashish according to
the Nelson Daily News from Thursday, July 20, 2006. I believe that
(by) cracking down on the drug trade is only going to raise the supply
and demand of underground dealers, and the prices of course are going
to escalate. A worry of mine is a decline in tourism and a loss of
businesses, considering the fact that this city only survives on a
service industry.

In my opinion, by being hard on the herbal drugs, the city police is
almost encouraging a growth in demand for harsher drugs that are more
damaging to one's health, such as; crystal meth, heroine, crack
cocaine, etc.

I can understand the view of the police for taking a stand on the drug
trade, but what I can't seem to understand is why take a stand on marijuana?

In the article in the Nelson Daily News, you said that "it is not
tolerated. The Holy Smoke - their (alleged) activity is not tolerated
by the police or frankly by the people in the community." How can you
speak for the people of the community? I suggest that you check the
public opinion before you make such a statement that is obviously not
supported by the entire population of Nelson

Melissa Cataford

Nelson, B.C.