RE: DRUG CRACK DOWN SINCE NOVEMBER, RCMP NOTES MAY 2.

In arguing that marijuana growing is not harmless, Sgt. Jim Reaburn
confuses the [police] drug war's collateral damage with marijuana.

Hazardous marijuana grow operations are a direct result of marijuana
prohibition, not the marijuana plant. Legitimate farmers do not steal
electricity to grow produce in the basement of rented homes, If legal,
growing marijuana would be less profitable than farming tomatoes. As it
stands, the drug war distorts market forces such that an easily grown weed
is literally worth its weight in gold. Rather than continue to subsidize
organized crime and put neighbourhoods at risk of fire, policymakers should
consider taxing and regulating the sale of marijuana to adults.

There is a big difference between condoning marijuana use and protecting
children from drugs. Decriminalization acknowledges the social reality of
marijuana use and frees users from the stigma of life-shattering criminal
records.

What's really needed is a regulated market with age controls. Right now
kids have an easier time buying pot than beer. Separating the hard and
soft drug markets is critical. Marijuana may be relatively harmless
compared to legal alcohol - pot has never been shown to cause an overdose
death - but marijuana prohibition is deadly.

As long as marijuana distribution remains in the hands of organized crime,
consumers will continue to come into contact with harder drugs. Drug policy
reform may send the wrong message to children, but I like to think the
children themselves are more important than the message.

Robert Sharpe, Washington, DC