DRUGS PROBLEMS ECLIPSE THE MARIJUANA ISSUE

Re: 'Care is needed with grow-op crackdown,' (Our View, Daily News, Aug. 11)

The valid question was posed, "Are so many people so chronically
unhappy with their lives, jobs, relationships and themselves that they
flee to marijuana thinking it will make them feel better?" Let's have
a show of hands. Do you drink caffeinated coffee, smoke cigarettes
and/or drink alcohol frequently? Maybe it's to give you a pick-me-up
in the morning or help you relax during those stressful times and calm
down after a hard day? Does anyone you know turn to these substances
because they are unhappy with their lives, jobs, relationships and
themselves?

The significantly more serious problems that these
multi-billion-dollar industries enable easily eclipses the marijuana
issue. Just because someone decided one day that these substances
would be legalized, doesn't change the fact that you may indeed be
addicted to some of the most addictive substances on earth. Not to
mention drugs from the local drug store or fast food additives.

Illegal marijuana use and it's industry is a problem, and it's
understandable that police exaggerate the number of grow-ops to ensure
that future funding is maintained. Otherwise we would hear of more
than a handful of grow-ops actually being discovered. B.C. Hydro's
consumption information can be a useful investigative tool and since
we already allow agencies to monitor our finances, locations and
conversations, should we be concerned with this approach to keeping
the peace?

J. S. Harms

Nanaimo