REPORTER DOESN'T TACKLE 'ROOT OF THE PROBLEM'

Tim Whitnell (The Post, Sept. 19) decries the dangers of illegal
marijuana grow operations without a thought to the root of the
problem. Yet, he also briefly mentioned the federal grow operation in
Flin Flon, Manitoba. In the government-sponsored grow, things were
different. No electricity was stolen. The neighbours did not have to
fear for their safety. Licensed contractors built the operation, so
the risk of fire was minimal. No criminal made a dime off of the
place, and nobody got shot over the profits.

Now that the government has shown us that, without the criminal
element involved, a marijuana grow operation is no more dangerous than
the various breweries dotting the Canadian landscape, perhaps it's
time for them to explain why they have kept the criminals in charge of
the marijuana business for so long.

Kendall M. Cox,

Shorewood, Illinois, U.S.

(By e-mail)