YOU CANNOT LEGISLATE MORALITY

Editor: Re: "Weeding out drug houses" (The Times, Oct 19)

The best way to shut down dangerous drug houses run by organized crime
is with a system of legal regulation and control of plants and drugs.
Prohibition gives organized crime many billions of dollars in revenue
every year, and maximizes or creates the dangers associated with
plants and drugs, and marginalizes the most vulnerable members of society.

Prohibition causes corruption, disrespect for the rule of law and law
enforcement, clogs the justice system, and criminalizes harmless
people. Canada has prohibited plants since 1908. We need a new
strategy, after 100 years of the same old thing. Doesn't it seem
unnatural to prohibit plants?

Dr. Darryl Plecas claims that the courts aren't accountable, but
neither are the RCMP because they investigate themselves. Langley City
Mayor Peter Fassbender is very dismissive of the "stupid" court system
and the rule of law.

The police should use the legal tools they have, instead of demanding
extra-judicial measures. The job of law enforcement is to enforce the
law, not lobbying the government to influence policy.

Cops should focus on doing their jobs properly so cases won't get
thrown out of court on a technicality, instead of blaming the courts.
Legislating morality has never worked.

Ellis Worthington

Vancouver