PROHIBITION, CIRCA 2009

Len Garis, the fire chief in Surrey, B.C., has this to say about
grow-op fires and hazards, "If [only] we can separate the product
[marijuana] and the situation." We can (Seeing Pot Through Benign Soft
Lens Ignores Hard Realities Of Grow Ops - Feb. 7). The dangers of grow
ops only exist because marijuana is illegal, which means plants have
to be grown clandestinely with no safety or health regulations.
Marijuana can be separated from hazardous grow-op situations simply by
ending marijuana prohibition.

Consider alcohol prohibition: Homemade basement booze distilleries
were popping up everywhere to supply demand, but they caused fires and
explosions, attracted gang violence and created other problems akin to
what we're seeing under marijuana prohibition. Legalizing and
regulating the safe production of marijuana in greenhouses or
outdoors, like most flowers and produce, would eliminate grow ops from
homes and neighbourhoods.

Jodie Emery

Vancouver