FEAR-MONGERING ABOUT MARIJUANA MUST STOP

Re: "Police seek more power to shut down pot houses," Nov. 27.

It never ceases to amaze me the great lengths that law enforcement will go
to to try to protect their jobs. We are being fed nonsense about the "
present and clear danger" that marijuana grow houses pose. The only dangers
we are being exposed to is the stupidity of prohibition.

Every problem cited in the article is a problem caused by the prohibition
of marijuana, not the marijuana itself. Most people who grow pot are NOT
gang members, do not steal electricity and do not pose any threat to their
communities or their families.

This irresponsible fear-mongering by law enforcement officials must stop.
It is ludicrous to suggest that children are at risk because mom and dad
have some plants in the basement.

Poverty is the real risk that children in this province face, not the fact
that their parents have green thumbs.

The main effects of marijuana are relaxation and contentment and this would
be most beneficial to the U.S., especially in their current frenzied state.
I resent the waste of my hard-earned tax dollars on a misguided,
American-fuelled drug war.

We have some real problems in this country and marijuana is NOT one of
them. If criminal gangs are really the problem that we are told they are,
legalize pot and we have eliminated their source of income overnight.

No one is at risk due to marijuana but many people have been harmed by the
prohibition of it. It's time to stop the insanity and legalize a plant that
has been used safely by people since time began.

Lynne Williams,

Chemainus.