LEGALIZATION WOULD STOP GANGS

Dear Editor,

The number one best thing we could do to thwart gangs [Business asked
to stymie gangs, March 19, Langley Advance] is legalize and regulate
their commodities. Pot sold in coffee shops, harder drugs sold in
pharmacies and clinics, and discreet brothels to get the prostitution
off the streets and reduce slavery would pretty much steal all the
business away from the gangs.

But cops don't want these things legalized here, because it would
likely have the same effect as similar measures have had in the
Netherlands, namely, a dramatic reduction in crime. And that means
budget cuts and layoffs.

Since crime has been dropping for over 25 years, the police are
hard-pressed to justify their never-ending demands for more money and
more powers of intrusion and coercion.

They have to convince the public that crime is a bigger issue than it
is, before someone starts asking difficult questions, like, "Why do we
pay cops so much?" and, "Why do we need so many cops when crime is
dropping?" and, "Why do they always need more and more power and more
gadgets?" and, "Why are they lobbying with my tax dollars?"

Russell Barth,

Federally Licensed Medical Marijuana User