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 - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager