Pubdate: Fri, 18 Mar 2005 Source: Elmira Independent (CN ON) Copyright: 2005 Elmira Independent Contact: http://www.elmiraindependent.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1930 Author: Gail Martin Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/grow+operations DANGEROUS DRUGS The recent death of four RCMP officers in the line of duty has brought forward many questions about our current state of law enforcement. In particular, it raises the question of just how dangerous these marijuana-grow operations can be. Until the March 3 deaths of these four young men, I believe that Canadians had an air of complacency about the extent of the illegal drug market in our country. After all, most of us reasoned, if people choose to do drugs, they are only hurting themselves. Let them be, we concluded. Well, we now have irrefutable evidence that at least one operation has caused irreparable harm to four families, as well as the friends of Anthony Gordon, Leo Johnston, Brock Myrol and Peter Schiemann. I think it is important for us to realize just how much money can be made by these illegal operations -- and just how far some are willing to go to protect that source of illegal revenue. While James Roszko, the killer of the four RCMP officers was known as a cop hater, I still believe that there are other grow operations in this country that could be just as deadly in the future. There is a huge market for marijuana in this country alone, and an even larger potential market in the United States. American officials have long expressed concern about the marijuana that makes it across the border on a regular basis. It is big business. I have seen first-hand just how willing young teens are to experiment with drugs. Many of them come from troubled backgrounds, and are more than willing to find an easy escape. >From what I have seen, there are more teens who have tried marijuana than those who haven't; and, for those who are most vulnerable, they will likely make it a lifelong habit. For some, it will even lead to harder, more dangerous drugs. I believe that marijuana, while written off as relatively harmless by many, causes far more problems in our society than have yet been discovered. We know the ills that alcohol abuse has brought, and yet have convinced ourselves that this other escape from reality is harmless. I don't think so. When the most vulnerable and aimless members of our society are likely turn to something like marijuana for comfort, our entire nation suffers. I believe that more has to be done in this country to make it more difficult for teens to get this drug, and to punish unscrupulous growers and dealers from exploiting the most vulnerable in our society. There are those who say that the occasional recreational use of marijuana is harmless, and will push for the legalization of the drug. I would respond by saying that I have yet to find anything truly redeeming about the use of drugs. At best, it adds nothing to society. At worst, it takes a lot. Knowing where this drug can and does lead in many cases, I think we are better off spending our efforts in cutting out this dangerous source of revenue to the criminal element in our society. If these officers had been backed up by more resources, or if Roszko had never been allowed to get this far out of control, perhaps these officers would still be alive today. Let's make sure that their deaths have not been in vain, and start pushing for tougher penalties for those who, like Roszko, disdain the law. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin