LEGALIZING MARIJUANA WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM

Regarding your May 31 story Police step up war against underworld:

While forces around Golden Horseshoe create a new unit to fight organized
crime, it is rash to believe that is the most feasible or effective way of
taking on those groups.

Consider the following:

The number of cannabis grow operations has, by police admission, been
rising exponentially; so too has the rate of hydro theft and faulty grow
operations, as police also attest.

Both place a financial strain on society, but more significant is the fact
that government has essentially created and nurtured an environment
conducive to that increase. Government has no regard for the consequences
- -- the potentially life-threatening situation that faulty grow ops pose to
the public, including unwary firefighters, hydro workers and police.

When government tries to legislate morality, it fails.

To create an environment for no significant purpose other than to appease
moralist appetites and a U.S. agenda doesn't make sense.

Every commissioned study to date speaks of the relative harmlessness of
cannabis when compared to alcohol and tobacco. Why criminalize marijuana
when alcohol and tobacco are legal? Why stigmatize the behaviour and
choices of a significant portion of the public for subscribing to the
lesser of the "evils" available?

If cannabis were to be regulated by government, it would result in a
revenue windfall and eliminate any reason for turning residential
properties into lucrative agricultural enterprises.

Wayne Phillips

King Street East

Hamilton