Decriminalize it

Thank you for the amazing frontpage article "Pot seized in airborne raid"
[Sept. 4], and the hilarious picture of a few armfuls of plants being
unloaded from a multimilliondollar military helicopter. It well portrays
an archetype of mismanagement of public funds on a colossal scale and
clearly shows the stupidity of the war on drugs.

In this case, we have two helicopters, 20 armed soldiers and police, a
police boat, one Zodiac and a truck involved in the "military style
operation." Estimated cost, anyone? And who did this crack force launch
their blitz on? The sleepy residents of one of the small islands off the
coast, and insidious patches of a natural herb growing on crown land. Any
guesses how many Lasqueti Island residents live above the poverty line? Not
many, let me tell you!

We are not talking drug manufacturers here. We are not even talking
commercial scale agriculture of the plant that currently brings more
revenue into B.C. than any other farm commodity. "Mostly in groups of 10
to 40 plants" is comparable to police coming with guns to raid your back
yard for a bushel or two of tomatoes.

The "million dollars' worth" seized is inflated police values to try to
justify wasting taxpayers' money confiscating this winter's recreational
smoke from a bunch of poor people who can't defend themselves from the
stormtroopers of the Empire.

As for not knowing who grew it, why not just arrest the whole island? There
are only 350 people there, not enough for their votes to count. And
everyone must have known even if they didn't do it, which makes them all
guilty as accomplices.

In fact, I guess we should all be locked up. Sixty to 80 per cent of our
population has enjoyed the relaxing benefits of a toke at one time or
another, including our prime minister and most of our politicians, and even
a large portion of the police force that is doing the busts.

The Canadian population is ready for decriminalization of the growing and
possession of marijuana. We are no longer willing to waste money chasing
gentle people growing harmless plants. The government's primary objective
must be redirected to the protection of rights and freedoms of the people,
and away from enforcing outdated morality. Let's quit wasting money chasing
potheads, and put our police to work on real crimes.

Ridgley Clark, Victoria.