ILLEGAL MARIJUANA LEADS PEOPLE TO USE COCAINE INSTEAD

Today many people believe that marijuana should be legalized, and
among those who disagree, the majority believe it is the least
harmful of the illegal drugs.

Marijuana is the most easily detected drug by far, it gives itself
away by its smell, which is universally recognized. It is that factor
that causes the more susceptible to use cocaine rather than marijuana.

Consider a bar or coffee shop, where pot smokers join the other
smokers outside, in the toilets, or in other designated smoking areas
they are strongly discouraged and probably asked to leave.

If the police are checking any of these businesses, they will smell
the smoke and undoubtedly convey their disappointment to the owners,
who will do their best to ensure it doesn't happen again.

The direct consequence, is that those who visit these establishments
are much more likely to snort cocaine than use the more benign
alternative. Cocaine has no smell to give it away, is universally
available, is gone in a flash and comes in a tiny package.

If this is not troubling enough in itself, it plays directly into the
pockets of the gangs. They ship B.C. bud south to optimize their
profits, and meanwhile the cocaine market in B.C. is strengthened by
fear of detection by authorities if anyone is foolish enough to smoke
marijuana publicly.

From a gangster's point of view it is ideal with a side-effect of
law enforcement optimizing their markets. Could we all be so
fortunate in our marketing advantages.

Tony Smith

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition member Langley