WE NEED REASONED DEBATE ON DRUG CONTROL

Re: "We must curb this social plague." March 9.

That gangs or organized criminal elements are often involved in grow
operations seems clear enough.

To suggest that the Mayerthorpe farm was one of those seems not. If the
RCMP perceived things differently, they recklessly exposed four young
officers to more than the threat of a lone cop-hater.

The consequences of using marijuana have never been properly debated.
Government after government has successfully avoided presenting the
available social and scientific evidence that might well settle the debate,
because some of the electorate wants it settled on moral principles and not
on the facts. To equate marijuana use with the "plague" represented by
grow-ops is not yet supported by accepted fact.

That said, Canada cannot impose its views, philosophical or legal, on the
United States. And Canada has an obligation, to say nothing of great
economic incentives, to close the border to a substance our neighbours do
not want. There are ways of doing that, while permitting Canada and
Canadians the freedom to make their own choices.

Canadians sentenced in the United States need not be permitted to serve
reduced sentences in Canada and such is far from being universally the
case. Nor are judges to blame for the lack of government leadership in
dealing with drug cases. If Canadians want something different than we have
when it comes to drug enforcement, our government will have to so
legislate. After reasoned debate, and not in the heat of a tragedy.

Raymond H. Lindsay,

Sidney.