PROHIBITING POT JUST WON'T WORK

Re: BC losing war on drug gangs, (B.C. Views, Jan. 15).

Tom Fletcher isn't just accurately describing the way things are; he's
describing the direction things are moving to.

In the early 1970s the Le Dain Commission's report along with Canada's
2002 Senate Committee on Illegal Drugs report unanimously recommended
to regulate cannabis (marijuana) the same way as alcohol. Since Canada
ignored those recommendations, the problems associated with
prohibiting the relatively safe, socially acceptable, God-given plant
cannabis have escalated. And it's not limited to Canada; look at
what's happening in the U.S. and Mexico.

Millions of North Americans have utter contempt for the continent's
discredited cannabis laws, which are nothing more than government
subsidized discrimination. Millions of North Americans demand cannabis
and one way or the other that demand will be honoured. Cannabis will
be cultivated and it will increase rather than decrease.

Except for those who profit, nearly every person who uses cannabis
would prefer to acquire it from regulated sources but all will
purchase it in the black market if necessary. It's just a matter of
who consumers give their money to. Right now consumers are ready,
willing, able and eager to give it to regulated sources along with its
share of taxes to government but if government doesn't want it.

The money is changing hands either way.

Stan White

Dillon, Colorado