POT SMOKER STANDS UP FOR COPS

To the editor:

Regarding Cst. Al Arsenault ("Odd Squad cop back on hot seat over e-mail,"
July 14), I believe the Charter rights of Mr. Arsenault should be respected.

I also attended the IDEAS conference, but as a protester. I smoked lots of
awesome weed and I spoke out against the intolerant message of the IDEAS
crowd. Hosting IDEAS in "Vansterdam" was about as brilliant as hosting a
KKK rally at a reggae festival. Mostly, I smoked weed and socialized with
my activist brethren.

I exercised my freedom of association, freedom of consciousness, freedom of
assembly and freedom of expression as guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of
rights and freedoms.

As much as I detest the American-influenced IDEAS agenda I support their
right to meet and discuss it. I don't understand why the participation of
cops is an issue, as long as they were off duty.

Norm Siefken,

Marijuana Party of Canada,

Chilliwack