DANGEROUS PRECEDENT

The law may be an ass, but it is still the law. If Police Chief Vince
Bevan, as mentioned in your article of June 7 by Derek Abma, has told
his officers not to arrest or charge people for possession of less
than 30 grams of marijuana, he is setting the very dangerous precedent
of allowing the police to decide which laws to enforce and which laws
not to enforce.

In a civilized country there is due process for the creation (or
alteration) of laws through our elected officials.

Once the unelected police start taking over this role we have taken a
step (albeit a very small step in this case) toward a military
society. The point is not whether or not you agree with the
decriminalization of marijuana, the point is who should decide what
laws govern our society.

In Canada it is supposed to be our elected officials, hence us, not
left up to the discretion of the unelected police.

Mark Hancock

Ottawa

(Our pot laws are in such a state of confusion, we don't think Bevan,
and chiefs like him, can be fairly faulted for refusing to enforce
them)