MARIJUANA: REGULATE GROWTH INDUSTRY AWAY

Dear Editor,

There wouldn't be any marijuana grow operations if marijuana was
decriminalized and regulated like alcohol [Solgen eyes grow ops, May 28,
Langley Advance News].

B.C. Solicitor General Rich Coleman said that 82 per cent of people in B.C.
who are convicted of running grow operations get away without jail time.

But in Washington State, 48 per cent of grow op managers get five years in
prison or more. Grow op managers going to prison in the U.S. has not
deterred the use of marijuana. It has put the U.S. prison population 2nd
only to that of China.

It cost U.S. taxpayers about $2 billion per year per state to enforce
marijuana prohibition.

Mr. Coleman wants to follow the U.S. policy of seizing assets - which has
increased corruption in the U.S. The financial incentives created by civil
asset forfeiture laws create a dangerous precedent. When protectors of the
peace become predators, society is put at risk.

Both drug dealers and unscrupulous prosecutors share a common bond: They
are both financially dependent on a never-ending drug war without victory.

The ability of law enforcement agencies to financially benefit from
forfeited assets to fight the drug trade has distorted governmental
policymaking and law enforcement in the U.S. Economic incentive structure
develops. Law enforcement then targets assets rather than crime.

Larry Seguin Lisbon, NY, USA