CITING SAFETY CONCERNS ON POT HOUSES BOGUS

In the article, Dope houses grow like weeds (Nov. 21), it says "police
and firefighters have long tried to impress on the public the danger
of grow houses."

Indeed they have, but the public isn't buying it. The usual arguments
put forth by law enforcement (electricity theft, fire hazards, live
wires, mould, etc.) are simply scare tactics.

These arguments fall flat when one realizes these problems are a
product of prohibition.

In 2002, the Senate special committee on illegal drugs recommended
that cannabis be legalized for both therapeutic and recreational use,
and that its production and distribution be licensed and regulated.

If this happened, many people would grow a few plants in their
basement or backyard, just as many people now make beer and wine at
home. Lights and wiring would be installed properly by qualified
electricians. Demand for weed would fall, prices would drop, and
"major grow houses" would no longer be necessary or profitable.
Clearly it is our American-influenced prohibitionist policy on
marijuana that puts our police and firefighters in danger.

And what of the many indoor hydroponic tomato gardens in this country?
Why are these gardens not targeted for the same "safety" issues?
Obviously, safety is not the issue here.

Where there is demand, there will always be supply. Prohibition did
not work with alcohol and it is not working with marijuana. The grow
house "threat" is just another propaganda campaign in the war on this
harmless, medicinal plant and those who use it.

Byron Miller

Lucan