SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT

"Dialogue is the most effective way of resolving conflict."

- -Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

We should all be concerned.

Because the problem belongs to every one of us.

Saturday night RCMP responded to their third suspected drug related
assault in less than two months.

And if we're honest here, if we've heard of three, there's more out
there.

Nature of the business? Absolutely.

If you choose to be a part of organized criminal activity then you
should be prepared to face some serious whoop ass if you're not
playing by the rules.

And times are tough right now. I'm guessing the drug trade hasn't
sidestepped the effects of a slowed-down economy.

Maybe it even has a little something to do with the recent increase in
strong-arm "pay-up" tactics.

If, in fact, that's what's going on here.

So what do we do?

Yes, we.

Quesnel RCMP are doing everything they possibly can given the
resources available. But it's not just up to them.

They need our help and we could start by admitting we have a serious
problem here.

Yes, it's true. Quesnel has a problem with organized cocaine and
marijuana trafficking. And why does it have a problem?

Because the Gold Pan City has a demand for it.

And we're not the only ones. This problem isn't specific to Quesnel.
We're not leaders in the drug industry.

But we could be leaders in how we deal with it.

This is not a dirty secret. The worst possible thing we could do right
now is stick our heads in the sand.

Admitting we have a problem opens the doors of dialogue.

It may not be pretty, but it's the first step.