WAR ON POT IS NOT WORKING

What was the cost of last summer's pot busts in Kaslo?

How much did it cost the police to conduct these investigations and
raids versus how much the defendants paid once they were convicted,
if they were convicted?

When was the last time police went out to bust up a liquor still?

Point being, if pot were decriminalized and sold in a similar manner
to alcohol, would we need to waste police resources, time and money,
on busting pot growers?

If pot were decriminalized, would these growers even be interested,
or willing, to continue operating illegally?

In Holland, pot is decriminalized and sold in licensed 'coffee
shops,' growers are licensed, and taxes are paid on the businesses
and income from the activity. Possession of small quantities is permitted.

The result, according to the Dutch government, is many millions added
to the tax base, a freeing up of police resources to deal with harder
drugs, fewer court resources taken up prosecuting minor pot charges,
and very few illegal grow ops (it's easier to buy a license and do it
legally). Socially, there is less pot in the streets (it's more comfy
to go sit in a coffee shop) and a major reduction in the number of
young people taking up the habit.

At a time when government revenues are tumbling, it seems odd a
government claiming "fiscal responsibility" would continue to
prosecute an activity that costs more than it yields.

It also seems odd, while most reports indicate decriminalization,
licensing and regulation of pot would create a major windfall for
government coffers, the feds stringently hold onto their
ideologically driven opposition. Franky, it's fiscally irresponsible
not to reconsider.

Another factor is the ongoing negative perception of the RCMP. They
give lip service to the concept of 'community policing' but seem more
interested in getting neighbours to tattle-tale on each other.

Community policing should be more about serving and reacting to the
concerns of the community where the police are situated. Were the
busts in Kaslo this summer conducted as a result of local pressure,
or were the police operating under ideologically based directions from Ottawa?

Most studies and reports indicate the "war on pot" is not working.

Prohibition is resulting in gang violence (just as it did with
alcohol), making criminals rich, and costing taxpayers untold millions.

Obviously, it is time we tried a new tack, especially when we need
means of boosting the tax base! Most reports indicate
decriminalization would do just that! It is also time to face the
fact that pot is not going away, just as we once acknowledged about booze.

How long will it be before common sense supplants unsuccessful
ideological positions? When will we finally learn from the mistakes
of the past? When will our governments actually begin to demonstrate
the fiscal responsibility they give so much credence to?

Will Webster

Kaslo