MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES THAN POT

Editor, The News:

Re: 18 months for selling pot to cops (The News, Oct. 13).

It is truly sad that we fill the front half of our local newspaper
with such a nothing story. Surely, there are actions and crimes of
which we should be more aware and interested.

Other than the problem, despite the mayors' statements, of widespread
drug abuse in our municipality, there are other factors which could
be crowding our minds.

Our judiciary has gone to hell in a basket. The judges have lost all
sense of justice. It is incredible they hold a lower place than
lawyers in credibility, based on a national survey. Imagine, being
held lower than lawyers? One cannot get lower than that.

It has scientifically been proven that marijuana does not lead to
harder drug use. Just as cigarettes, a most addicting drug, do not
lead to cocaine.

Let our local, well-respected and award-winning paper focus on what
is important and relevant. I realize that the story is based on a
local merchant, but let us concentrate on the immediate problems we
have here in Maple Ridge. Were marijuana legalized, there would not be a story.

Before anyone gets heart palpitations with that comment, remember
that abolition did not stop people drinking, but it did increase
crime over 100 per cent.

I am sure that many citizens, including me, would be happy and eager
to be part of a fact-finding, solution-generating group to deal with
such problems as juvenile delinquency, judicial partiality, council
partisanship, street refuse problems (fining those stores three
blocks from their operation who do not daily pick up their 'sold'
refuse) and vandalism.

We have great local exposure with our papers and we have a glorious
God-given environment. Let us concentrate on what is important and
forget the little stuff.

Harry B. Battle

Maple Ridge