KUDOS TO SENATE

Editor:

Bravo. I am flabbergasted the Senate actually woke up and made an
intelligent decision.

Legalizing marijuana would kick the pins right out from under society's
criminal element. Marijuana is the bread-and-butter of the underworld and,
without it, they will lose a lot of influence.

The leaders of the law enforcement community, in a very self-serving
manner, are calling this a gift to the criminals. This is the attitude
which saw United States prohibition against alcohol in the 1920s create the
most powerful criminal organizations ever seen.

America has gunfights on the streets of the major cities, gangland beatings
and murders, just like during prohibition, thanks to the "War on Drugs."
Politicians have not learned from history that they cannot legislate
personal decisions and the U.S., therefore, has a larger percentage of its
citizens in prisons than any other country in the world.

Canada has imported this attitude and a good share of the problems and, if
we once again let the Americans dictate our policies, we will continue to
give organized crime the ability to exist and we will continue to pour ever
more money into the "War on Drugs."

I do not advocate drug use of any kind, but feel strongly that what an
adult does to his or her own body is no business of the state. Stupidity is
not a crime. What is a crime is to force middle- and lower-income
individuals into breaking the law to finance an addiction while wealthy
addicts remain largely untouched by the law.

Legalized marijuana, and hard drugs available for purchase by confirmed
addicts at a reasonable price, would eliminate most crime. Pushers would
have no incentive to get anyone hooked. Addicts would not need to steal.

With the drop in crime and policing costs as well as in insurance premiums
and the new bonanza from taxing sales, the savings would allow government
to set up a gold-plated treatment plan for any addict wishing to kick the
habit.

Legalizing marijuana would be a good start, but will our spineless
politicians confront the Americans to do the right thing?

Otto Hafeli

Kamloops