Pubdate: Wed, 03 Apr 2002
Source: Vancouver Courier (CN BC)
Copyright: 2002 Vancouver Courier
Contact:  http://www.vancourier.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/474
Author: Ian Tootill
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n595/a09.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

SMOKING POT A VICTIMLESS CRIME

To the editor:

Good for Mayor Owen for seeing the light with respect to the expense and 
futility of police pot busts.

However, I do not think that many people have considered the distinction 
between decriminalization and legalization. I hope the mayor opposes the 
former and favours the latter.

Currently, 50,000 citizens a year are charged for a victimless crime. 
Decriminalization might actually encourage more charges rather than reduce 
them. Presently, those members of law enforcement with a conscience and the 
ability to think for themselves may be reluctant to saddle a citizen with a 
criminal record for such a common and benign activity. Decriminalization 
would almost certainly see the number of charges rise with the result being 
that a cash cow develops for the government in a very underhanded way. Just 
like parking tickets. The only way to prevent this insanity from continuing 
is outright legalization.

Ian Tootill, Vancouver
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager