DRUG WAR FAILING

We've had a few days to get over the shock of the neo-conservative Fraser
Institute issuing a study calling for the legalization of marijuana and, now
that the smoke has cleared, a few things stand out:

- - Anybody who thinks we just need tougher penalties to deter organized
criminals from making millions through lucrative pot farms should ask
themselves where we'd get the money to hire enough police officers and
judges to enforce such penalties.

- - Our biggest trading partner, the United States, has threatened a border
crackdown if we legalize pot. That would create havoc for Canadian
businesses and individuals and yet, we are a sovereign country that often
takes differing stances on issues than our southern neighbour.

- - Untold police resources in B.C. are wasted each year busting about 3,000
grow ops - out of an estimated 17,500. Those resources could be put to
better use fighting violent, or even property crime.

- - The argument that if pot is legalized there would be a whole fleet of
drivers under the influence doesn't hold water. Chances are, people who want
to smoke weed are already doing so. We hope most aren't toking and driving,
but if pot were legalized, police resources could be shifted from busting
grow ops to cracking down on all bad drivers - stoned, drunk or just plain
aggressive.

- - When a neo-conservative think tank issues a report calling for the
legalization of marijuana, how many people out there still think the war on
drugs is working?