Pubdate: Sun, 11 Jan 2004 Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC) Copyright: 2004 Times Colonist Contact: http://www.canada.com/victoria/timescolonist/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481 Author: Patricia Gatenby WHY NOT TAKE THE FUN OUT OF TRAFFICKING Years ago it was rum-running, and a still hidden out on the back 40. Today it is marijuana fields, grow-ops in empty houses, biker gangs and millions of lost dollars. The police are unlikely to get the better of it. Why not give in, legalize it and have the government take over the preparation and sale of it through specialty shops like the old fashioned cigarette shops? Is it really any worse than alcohol? Look at the money the government makes on alcohol; how much it costs to sort of control marijuana in both growth and distribution, the cost of electricity stolen and ruin of houses, the policing? I think we are just encouraging people to become criminals. Let us change the system and take the fun out of it. Patricia Gatenby, Port Alberni. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake