DRUGS AREN'T THAT BAD

Re Cheese factory fire probably started in grow op, Burnaby NOW, May
24, 2003.

Unbelievable!

One of the negative and unintended consequences of drug prohibition -
unsafe, amateurish marijuana grow-ops, in this case - is cited in order to
persuade us that "drugs are bad" and that we should all continue to support
the program that caused the problem in the first place.

The fact that you chose not to challenge the authorities on this nonsense or
allow any input from those of us who oppose this law proves your purpose is
to propagandize rather than to inform.

Drug prohibition was initiated almost a century ago to "control" blacks
(marijuana), Chinese (opium) and Mexicans (marijuana).

Today, in addition to stimulating crime, which in turn leads to bloated
police budgets, its purpose remains to distract attention away from
government failures in other areas and to provide a measure of vicarious
enjoyment for the majority by persecuting an innocent minority.

Clever judges are much more likely to search for ways to sidestep the
Charter and allow the state to continue to oppress certain minorities if the
law in question has general public support.

Such support will always be there unless and until the awesome power of the
media is used to promote informed debate about oppressive laws such as drug
prohibition instead of badgering the public to support them.

Alan Randell,

Victoria