News (Media Awareness Project) - CN BC: Police Officer Calls For Drug Legalization |
| Title: | CN BC: Police Officer Calls For Drug Legalization |
| Published On: | 2009-02-16 |
| Source: | Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC) |
| Fetched On: | 2009-02-16 20:45:41 |
POLICE OFFICER CALLS FOR DRUG LEGALIZATION
Canada's drug laws are harmful, result in repeat offenders and waste
taxpayers' money, a Victoria police officer told a group of students
and marijuana activists yesterday.
David Bratzer was speaking at the 10th annual Cannabis Convention,
held at the University of Victoria by the student society's Hempology
101 Club and the International Hempology 101 Society.
"We have an environment where law-enforcement officers are realizing
these laws are ineffective," said Bratzer, speaking as a member of
the U.S.-based Law Enforcement Against Prohibition.
He emphasized that his views are personal, not those of the Victoria
Police Department.
As a patrol officer in an urban area of Victoria, Bratzer said he
sees the same addicts getting arrested over and over for break and
enter or robbery, crimes they commit to feed their drug habits. He
also sees street kids shooting up in back alleys with dirty needles
and without supervision, and many die as a result.
As for the recent spate of violent and brazen gang slayings in
Vancouver, Bratzer calls them "drug-prohibition deaths," arguing
they're the result of gang members fighting to control the
multi-billion-dollar illegal drug market.
Bratzer said a significant amount of police time -- and thus
taxpayers' money -- is spent battling drug crimes.
The solution, he said, is to gradually legalize and regulate all
drugs so they can be taken out of the hands of illegal gangs.
Bratzer, a clean-cut man in glasses and khaki pants, said instead of
preaching to the converted, he plans to take his message to Rotary
clubs, business groups and other "more conservative" organizations.
Law-enforcement officials, who deal with the adverse effects of drug
prohibition every day, are able to more effectively champion the
cause for legalization, said Ted Smith, president of the
International Hempology 101 Society.
"It's one thing to put us off as a bunch of potheads, but when sober,
intelligent people speak out, their opinion carries a lot of weight
because of that."
Yesterday's event featured guest speakers, including Ed deVries,
founder of the Nunavut Marijuana party; displays set up with various
drug paraphernalia; and, of course, the distinct smell of pot wafting
in from outside.
Canada's drug laws are harmful, result in repeat offenders and waste
taxpayers' money, a Victoria police officer told a group of students
and marijuana activists yesterday.
David Bratzer was speaking at the 10th annual Cannabis Convention,
held at the University of Victoria by the student society's Hempology
101 Club and the International Hempology 101 Society.
"We have an environment where law-enforcement officers are realizing
these laws are ineffective," said Bratzer, speaking as a member of
the U.S.-based Law Enforcement Against Prohibition.
He emphasized that his views are personal, not those of the Victoria
Police Department.
As a patrol officer in an urban area of Victoria, Bratzer said he
sees the same addicts getting arrested over and over for break and
enter or robbery, crimes they commit to feed their drug habits. He
also sees street kids shooting up in back alleys with dirty needles
and without supervision, and many die as a result.
As for the recent spate of violent and brazen gang slayings in
Vancouver, Bratzer calls them "drug-prohibition deaths," arguing
they're the result of gang members fighting to control the
multi-billion-dollar illegal drug market.
Bratzer said a significant amount of police time -- and thus
taxpayers' money -- is spent battling drug crimes.
The solution, he said, is to gradually legalize and regulate all
drugs so they can be taken out of the hands of illegal gangs.
Bratzer, a clean-cut man in glasses and khaki pants, said instead of
preaching to the converted, he plans to take his message to Rotary
clubs, business groups and other "more conservative" organizations.
Law-enforcement officials, who deal with the adverse effects of drug
prohibition every day, are able to more effectively champion the
cause for legalization, said Ted Smith, president of the
International Hempology 101 Society.
"It's one thing to put us off as a bunch of potheads, but when sober,
intelligent people speak out, their opinion carries a lot of weight
because of that."
Yesterday's event featured guest speakers, including Ed deVries,
founder of the Nunavut Marijuana party; displays set up with various
drug paraphernalia; and, of course, the distinct smell of pot wafting
in from outside.
Member Comments |
 | » Vegan said @ Wed Feb 18, 2009 @ 2:38am That's one of the more interesting articles I've read in a long time. It's something I've thought of for quite some time. Should all drugs be legal, would it help to minimize the damage? I don't think that the government should be the ones making money off of them though, like the do with cigarettes and alcohol. It's a many faceted issue. |
