CANADA TRAILS IN LEGALIZING POT DEBATE

The federal government needs to look beyond just law enforcement as a
means to combat gangs that plague Manitoba and increasingly many First
Nation reserves.

Ottawa has announced it will be giving police and prosecutors enhanced
powers to tackle activities such as prostitution, illegal gambling,
and drug trafficking. The changes will expand the list of what is
considered a serious crime in the Criminal Code. Keeping a common
bawdy house (for hookers), keeping a gaming or betting house and
exporting, importing and producing illegal drugs will all be added to
the list of serious crimes.

Manitobans and Winnipeggers are familiar with the reality of growing
organized criminal organizations. Indian Posse. Mad Kowz. All of these
organizations are being fuelled by illicit activities. Throughout the
1990s, Winnipeg was known as the gang capital of Canada, on a per
capita basis.

Unfortunately, the federal government is often on the wrong side of
the drug prohibition debate that may help in taking the profit out of
gang activities. It appears that even Mexican President Calderon,
leader of that country's conservative party, has said he is open to a
debate about the legalization of marijuana and other drugs as a means
to take the wind out of drug cartels that profit from illegal drugs
and commit violence along the border with the United States. More than
28,000 people have been killed by Mexico's drug cartels since 2006.

Calderon would be joining other Latin American leaders in calling for
this debate. Three former Latin American leaders, Cesar Gaviria of
Colombia, Ernesto Zedillo of Mexico and Fernando Cardoso of Brazil,
have all called for a debate on the legalization of marijuana in order
to undermine the income of the drug cartels. It was noted by
authorities that about 70% of the income of these gangs comes from
sales of illegal marijuana, which they turn around and use to purchase
weapons to further their turf wars with competitors.

Law enforcement officials who support ending drug prohibition have
also called upon President Barack Obama to engage in the debate about
marijuana legalization.

The same goes for prostitution as current Canadian laws outlawing
"common bawdy houses" prevents sex trade workers from accessing areas
where they can be safe and under the law. Under existing laws, they
are forced to solicit patrons in vehicles where they are unsafe.

Immoral

It appears that we are behind on this debate and need to look to other
jurisdictions for how they are responding to gang activities and
prostitution. The instinctive response is to look to law enforcement
for solutions.

Drugs, prostitution and illegal gambling are all activities that bring
harm in many instances to individuals, families and communities and
many feel they are immoral. But, one needs to look at the unintended
consequences of prohibiting all these activities.

People will always want to do these things and criminals often reap
the benefits because they can provide them at exorbitant prices and
people will still pay.

By all means, discourage people from these activities and help them,
but recognize that this requires sophisticated solutions, not just
"get tough" measures.