PROHIBITING POT WILL NOT WORK

Dear Editor:

(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