LEGALIZING MARIJUANA THE BEST WAY TO CUT ORGANIZED CRIME'S 'TENTACLES'

(Re: "Marijuana grow-ops busted" in the Sept. 11 edition of the Examiner)

What difference does it make?

The recent outdoor marijuana 'eradication' efforts by police are
glaring examples of the futility of prohibition.

Law enforcement efforts are not 'stemming the tide' (or 'taking a
bite out') of drugs, nor will they ever do so. It is all just an
expensive show at taxpayer expense to give the public the illusion
that something is being accomplished.

Why aren't journalists asking these important questions?

Is there evidence that these eradication efforts actually reduce the
availability of marijuana on the street?

What percentage of the outdoor crops are police able to destroy?

How much do these annual eradication efforts cost (diverted police
resources, overtime pay, helicopter use and fuel)?

Taxpayers have a right to know the answers to these questions.

This futile and expensive ritual will continue, year after year,
until we finally come to our senses and end cannabis prohibition.
Every major study on the cannabis issue has come to the same key
conclusion as the 2002 Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs.

'The prohibition of cannabis jeopardizes the health and well-being of
Canadians much more than does the substance itself" (Cannabis: Our
Position for a Canadian Public Policy, 2002- www.SenateReport.ca ).

Every day that we delay the end of this corrupting, harmful policy,
the deeper the tentacles of organized crime infiltrate into our
communities. Ending cannabis prohibition is definitely in Canada's
best interest.

Herb Couch

Nelson, B. C.