SENTENCES IN POT CASES SHOULD BE MORE SEVERE

Dear Editor:

Regarding the recent letter, "RCMP's war on drugs misguided," in my
opinion, writer Russell Barth is plenty more misguided in his defense
of pot usage than the RCMP is in their attempts to curtail all
aspects of this illegal activity.

There are a few simple facts known to all players in this and other
crimes that are not being addressed. The most important is that these
crimes are dealt with in our courts as if they were minor
misdemeanors. This sends the message to all users that the practice
is tolerated if you pay a small "user fee" to the government when
caught using, growing or distrbuting marijuana.

That simple fact is why drug cultivation and usage in this country is
common recreation among many decent people and not viewed as the
crime it really is.

Give the RCMP a break! They enforce laws, they don't make them or
have much influence in developing them.

Barth suggests that cops help gangsters and deprive people of
billions in tax revenue - what a ridiculous statement.

It is clear our prisons are full of criminals lubricated in their
life of crime with drugs of all sorts.

It is rare to find one who has not been negatively influenced by
drugs and most will admit it all started with a little "harmless pot".

Barth suggests that pot "actually fights cancer". Pot IS a cancer
among our youth, nearly sanctioned by our courts and the likes of
people like him promoting it.

The monetary penalty should be set at 10 times the value of the pot
found and a minimum jail term of 10 years for first offenders.

That would immediately remove the recreational user and grower from
the picture. It might sound harsh but in some places on this planet
you would be shot for simple possession.

A.W. Shier