PUTTING LAW OFFICERS AT RISK

First of all, I want to thank all of you who wrote in support of
illegal drug use. I have turned your names over to the police for
investigation and I am spending the reward. Kidding.

It was interesting to see the support for marijuana use out there,
although that's not what my Monday comment was about.

Actually, I'm more in favour of legalizing or decriminalizing the use
of marijuana than not, but that's a conversation for another day.

I used the subject of illegal drugs (all illegal drugs, not just
marijuana) and could also have included stolen goods, etc., to remind
us all of our collective responsibility to side with our police by
obeying the laws as they stand.

No question that we put our law enforcement officers more at risk by
empowering the bad guys with our business.

Consider this stat from the International Narcotics Control Strategy
Report, released by the Bureau for International Narcotics and Law
Enforcement Affairs in March 2004:

"The RCMP estimates that the drug trade in Canada generates over $3
billion in criminal proceeds at the wholesale level and $13.5 billion
at the street level."

As Sgt. John Fleming, Unit Commander of the RCMP Drug Section in
Winnipeg, said to me yesterday, "Anything that increases criminality
in the country will increase the risk to police."

Two helpful possibilities: One - reduce demand by giving the bad guys
fewer customers; second, as recommended by an irate e-mailer or two -
change unrealistic laws that push those who would be law-abiding
citizens to "criminal" behaviour.

Whatever. There's always room to grow.