WEED OUT CRIME, REGULATE DRUGS

Re: "Urban Canadians rank safety as No. 1 priority; Only eight per
cent consider economy their top concern," Sept. 8. The Tories and
Grits passed Bill C-15, which offers mandatory minimum jail sentences
for growing as few as five marijuana plants. This will subsidize not
only the police and jails, but also the 95 per cent of growers who
will never be caught. This will lead to more crime and violence,
which future governments will use as an excuse to pass even more laws
that violate our charter rights, and our civil rights and liberties.

Prohibition is the root of the problem. All the science, history, and
common sense on the subject shows conclusively that the best way to
reduce crime is to regulate drugs, starting with marijuana. This will
save us $1 billion a year, generate an additional $3 billion in
annual tax revenue, and increase tourism to the tune of about a $1
billion a year.

That money could be spent on things that actually do reduce poverty
and crime, like health care, housing, education, and sports/art/music programs.

Russell Barth, Nepean, Ont.

Russell Barth is a federally licensed medical marijuana user and
member of Patients Against Ignorance and Discrimination On Cannabis