CENAIKO'S WAR ON DRUGS WILL JUST DRIVE UP PRICES

Re: "Alberta goes gangbusters on policing initiatives: Nearly 200 new
officers will increase rural presence, target organized crime and
grow-ops," The Journal, April 14.

How Solicitor General Harvey Cenaiko figures he's going to dismantle and
disrupt organized crime in Alberta by targeting grow-ops is beyond me.

Let's look at what has been happening in the cannabis community over the
past two years or so. Back when the benefits of legalizing cannabis were
debated openly by open-minded people, one could buy an ounce (30 grams) for
a little over $100. The quality was going up and the profits going down.

It was not something organized crime needed to prosper. Rumour had it that
most of the bad guys were on their way out.

Then, right-wing-prohibitionists, with help from the Americans, re-packaged
their rhetoric of fear. It didn't take long for the same ounce to jump to $175.

Now, an ounce ranges from $200 to $240. There is an expected drop in supply
while most indoor gardeners are dedicating their green thumbs to nursing
clones for the upcoming outdoor season.

Insiders suggest when the supply is lowered further through additional
Green-Team efforts, prices will hit $300, making it profitable again for
organized crime. Even worse, it will make it more profitable to import
Middle-Eastern hashish into Alberta.

So why would the solicitor general want to put the profit motive back into
cannabis gardening? How does he expect to reduce organized crime by
lowering supply and increasing prices?

Most reasonable people suggest these tactics will attract organized crime
into Alberta, not discourage it!

Dave Molloy

Edmonton