KEEP THE WAR ON DRUGS GOING

Re: We Can't Afford A War On Weed, Larry Campbell, Philip Owen and Sam Sullivan, Dec. 19.

Hurrah for the clarion call by three former Vancouver mayors for an
end to marijuana prohibition. Legalize pot and - presto - gang-related
violent crime and fear among our citizens would disappear.

But wait, that's not all. In their enthusiasm, they missed the
collateral benefit of having solved Canada's problem of declining
tourism from south of the border and elsewhere. Just think of the
tourism potential of a mass influx of drug-deprived folks descending
on the "True North, Strong and Free and Legally Drugged," pouring
untold millions of much-needed dollars into our struggling economy ...
with many undoubtedly wishing to stay permanently.

That's the kind of "stimulus" (pun intended) that would really help us
all get through these hard economic times with a "buzz."

On a less euphoric note, however, the myths and fallacies of "ending
marijuana prohibition" are numerous. Here are just two, as outlined by
the Canadian Police Association: Myth #1: Legalization will drive the
crime rate down; Myth #2: Organized crime would be reduced with legalization.

While the "Vancouver Three" may consider these myths mere "police
propaganda," I would nevertheless challenge them to provide us with a
smokeless view of whatever "reality" they are coming from.

E.W. Bopp

Tsawwassen, B.C.