LEGALIZE MARIJUANA AND GET RID OF THE CRIMINAL ELEMENT

Dear editor:

Re: Cops want tougher sentences for repeat drug offenders.

Do politicians favour cannabis prohibition because it finances criminals at
home or terrorists abroad?

It is incomprehensible why a government - who could take effective measures
to take the profit out of grower operations by either reclassifying
cannabis or removing it from the CDSA entirely - doesn't.

It is the outlawing of cannabis which empowers the "black market
entrepreneur" and, by extension, that which creates the potential for
possible injury or death to occupants and others because of faulty grower
operation set-ups. Including any property damage to the grow house and
neighbouring residences.

It is a mistake to think that if the government moves in the direction of a
reconsidered cannabis initiative it will send out a message that it
condones cannabis use. Government will simply be recognizing there are more
responsible, progressive and effective means available that it is prepared
to initiate in order to better cope with the realities of cannabis usage
use in contemporary society.

Wayne Phillips

Hamilton