SPENDING MONEY ON POT BUSTS

Dear Editor,

Re: "Watch out for pot, urges Crime Stoppers " July 24 edition of the
Oxford-Review

Here we go again wasting the taxpayers' hard-earned money. So what if
Crime Stoppers of Oxford is telling citizens to watch out for pot?

What difference will it make? After all, "outdoor cultivation of
marijuana throughout Ontario's rural communities is as common as ice
cream cones in summer!"

Last year's police pot harvest didn't stop this year's crop and this
year's police pot harvest won't stop next year's crop. The recent
"outdoor pot busts" by the police are glaring examples of the futility
of prohibition.

Law enforcement efforts are not "stemming the tide" or "taking a bite
out" of the pot industry, nor will they ever do so. It is all just an
expensive show at taxpayers' expense to give the public the illusion
that something is being accomplished.

Why aren't journalists asking important questions,
like:

* Is there any evidence that these police eradication efforts have
made an impact on the marijuana trade in the region? Where is the
proof? After all, these eradication efforts have been happening for
decades and the outdoor gardens haven't gone away.

* What percentage of the outdoor crops are the police able to
destroy?

* How much do these annual pot eradication efforts cost? (diverted
police resources, overtime pay, helicopter use and fuel, court and
prison costs, etc.) Taxpayers have a right to know the answers to
these questions.

Why are we wasting our money on outdoor pot busts when the money could
be much better spent maintaining good health and education services in
our communities?

Unfortunately, these futile and expensive outdoor pot bust rituals
will continue, year after year, until we finally come to our senses,
end pot prohibition, and create a legal, regulated market.

Herb Couch

Nelson, B.C.