CRIMINAL LOGIC

The federal government is planning to criminalize yet another
substance, in this case, salvia. MP Shelley Glover states that the
government is "very worried about the long-term effects" of using the
herb (Feds eye ban on obscure herb, Feb. 22).

Following this logic, we should soon be expecting that cigarettes,
sugar and salt will also be criminalized, in total denial of the fact
that, in the 1920s, the criminalization of alcohol was a massive
failure that contributed hugely to the growth of organized crime in
North America.

And now, if Glover has her way, our police forces, courts and jails
will be distracted from approaches to fighting crime that work to
engage instead in a war on a new drug, salvia. And the criminal
element will be given a monopoly on yet another substance, which they
will surely accept, and proceed to work towards creating addicts who
will then resort to crime in order to pay for their habits.

Does anyone in the federal government have any idea what they are doing?

BILL MARTIN

Gimli