Pubdate: Wed, 26 Jun 2002 Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC) Copyright: 2002 Times Colonist Contact: http://www.canada.com/victoria/timescolonist/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481 Author: Jim Hackler STIRRING THE DOMESTIC POT I do not condone non-medical drug use, illegal or otherwise, but the primary concern of governments seems to be economic growth. Most drug money is laundered through "respectable" businesses, which carefully look the other way. The present punitive practices regarding drug use supports organized crime, corrupts police forces, destroys more lives than the drug use itself, and makes otherwise ethical real estate dealers pretend that they are not suspicious when someone with little apparent income pays cash for a house. But our drug policies keep judges and police employed and stimulate the economy. More rational policies toward drugs might generate tax revenue, reduce the duplicity at banks and brokerage firms, and lessen the deceit involved in many real estate deals. The controlled legal distribution of pot would not solve problems associated with use, but current money launderers would not have to pretend that they see nothing. They could behave morally. Cigarette manufacturers and marijuana growers would be on the same footing. And since we are obsessed with economic indicators, we could openly add these numbers to the gross domestic product. Prostitutes distribute their earnings just as efficiently as opera singers. Gordon Campbell must be pleased that marijuana and money laundering is filling in the gap left by unemployed loggers, teachers, and government employees. Jim Hackler, University of Victoria. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth