GET-TOUGH APPROACH TO POT CRIME SETS A BAD EXAMPLE

Editor,

Once again the Chronicle publicizes our police chief's opinion that
stricter penalties would solve our grow op problem. (Town crime on
upswing, Feb 1)

Surely the example of our neighbour to the south should be
instructive.

A few months ago a high school student in Alabama received 26 years
for selling cannabis in school. Last month a man with no prior record
got 55 years for trafficking a small quantity of the same plant. A few
hours before sentencing him, the same judge gave another guilty man 22
years for beating an old lady to death with a two by four.

The results of this "get tough" approach - America has the biggest
drug problem in the world.

Just how strict does our police chief think we should be to eliminate
grow-ops?

The sane and compassionate way to deal with cannabis is to relegalize
and regulate this plant.

Continuing the shameful persecution of some people who use some plants
demeans us all.

R. Clarke

Ladysmith