DROP ARCHAIC POT LAW

Editor:

A recent news item has an authoritative spokesperson telling the world that
here in B.C. they are investigating at least eight murders related to
marijuana grow-ops, all associated with organized crime trying to control
territory.

The St. Valentine's Day massacre was such a turf fight - nothing more. One
gang wanted exclusive rights to sell booze in a certain area. There is
nothing new here; these gang wars have existed for as long as we've had
stupid laws banning products and services people want.

Since prohibition was repealed in the U.S., no brewery has gone to war with
another distiller over "turf" and nobody has since dressed up as a cop to
mow down the competition. As a matter of fact, some of the biggest fortunes
in Canada came from liquor sales, both before and after American
prohibition.

It has been said many times, when a law is ignored, opposed or broken by the
majority, the law is bad and needs to go. When there is no profit to be
gained by illicitly growing marijuana, the violence to control it and the
dangers associated with its production will disappear overnight, just like
they did after the American prohibition amendment was thrown out - much to
the chagrin of Canadian bootleggers, I may add. Even a casual glance at
history dealing with the illicit production of bathtub gins amply
illustrates numerous explosions and fires. Complete towns were wiped out
because somebody was cooking a mash and passed out as a result of consuming
the previous batch.

Ignorance inevitably leads to disaster and grow-ops are certainly no
exception to this rule. The numerous fires and blatant disrespect for the
hazards surrounding the growing and harvesting of marijuana should be ample
proof that the laws are being broken by some pretty stupid people. The same
kind of idiots that blew up their homes distilling alcohol when that was
illegal.

Robert Saint Amour

Surge Narrows, B.C.