BETTER DRUG POLICIES NEEDED IN CANADA

Editor:

Kudos to the RCMP for busting another fine (and large) grow-op in our
community. The Giscome grow-op that was busted was enormous.

But for every one of these huge grow-ops that gets dismantled, how
many are actually running smoothly and generating profits for
organized crime in the province? If crime is an iceberg, we're only
seeing what's above the waterline. Const. Smith said that many of the
profits used from pot grow-ops are reinvested into importing harder
drugs and starting new grow-ops. This feedback cycle quickly exceeds
the abilities of law enforcement to curb the growth.

The people who run these grow-ops go to jail for a few years, come
back out with better connections in the crime world after going to
prison and become more competent criminals. The profits to reap from
such an operation are tempting to say the least, if someone offered
you thousands of dollars to grow some plants, all you have to do is
water them and keep them warm you'd probably be tempted. Money is
what this all comes down too, why not make it unprofitable for anyone
to run a grow-op? Why is it so profitable? Because the source of
marijuana (the supply) is controlled by organized crime who sets the
street prices for it. Competition drives prices down, and the demand is huge.

It's time to have progressive policies towards drugs. Marijuana today
is where alcohol was during prohibition, the policies in place are
ineffective and don't work. There are people out there who still want
it and people are out there to provide it.

If you're a parent you might think that if marijuana became
decriminalized it may be more tempting for your child to try it, that
may very well be, but don't rely on the fact that the classification
of a substance being controlled as a deterrent for consumption by any
means. It may make it more difficult to get, but that only has the
effect of driving the street-price up.

It's just a day at the office for these people who run grow-ops.
Let's take away their lucrative market. Ask yourself, when was the
last time you worked for free?

Andrew Tejero

Prince George