TIME TO TOUGHEN DRUG LAWS

I write in response to the recent tragic murders of the young RCMP
officers in Alberta.

Were their deaths meaningless?

A current article in a national magazine debates whether the Canadian
drugs laws are adequate, whether the courts deal harshly enough with
offenders and the need to hire more police to enforce the laws.

Much of the controversy surrounds the marijuana growing operations and
the fear that if the penalties are too severe, the grow-ops will be
driven underground and will be taken over by organized crime.

If we are worried about organized crime taking over the growing
operations, there's a solution. Organized crime normally ties itself
to anything where it can make a large profit. If the law was applied,
as it could be, seize and forfeit, to the Crown, all cash, property,
residences, vehicles and equipment, where grow-ops exist. If, on
conviction, the bank accounts of the convicted felons were seized and
forfeited, the profit aspect would be removed. No longer would it seem
so attractive to the crooks.

We don't seem to be able to make our minds up whether marijuana
possession, distributing and growing is serious enough to be
considered a criminal offence and if it is, what punishment should
accompany a conviction.

Until the politicians and the courts come to a firm consensus and get
their act together, a great many police officers will be left in
limbo, knowing that they may be risking their lives, as they did in
Alberta, for convictions that bear about the same level of penalty as
a conviction for a traffic offence.

If it could unanimously decided that marijuana is bad stuff, then go
after the users, distributors and producers, without fear or favour,
to the full extent of the law. If that decision cannot be made, then
decriminalize it.

Let's put a little meaning into the cops' effort.

Joseph Lederman

Plattsville