Pubdate: Wed, 20 Apr 2005
Source: New Hamburg Independent ( CN ON )
Copyright: 2005 Fairway Newspaper Group
Contact:  
http://www.newhamburgindependent.ca
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3421
Author: Joseph Lederman

ALL OR NOTHING WITH MARIJUANA LAWS

I write in response to the recent tragic murders of the young RCMP officers 
in Alberta.  Were their deaths meaningless?

A current article in a national magazine debates whether the Canadian drug 
laws are adequate, whether the courts deal harshly enough with offenders 
and the need to hire more police to enforce the laws?

Much of the controversy surrounds the marijuana growing operations and the 
fear that if the penalties are too severe the grow-ops will be driven 
underground and will be taken over by organized crime.

If we are worried about organized crime taking over the growing operations, 
there's a solution.  Organized crime normally ties itself to anything where 
it can make a large profit.  If the law was applied, as it could be, seize 
and forfeit, to the Crown, all cash, property, residences, vehicles and 
equipment where grow-ops exist.  If on conviction the bank accounts of the 
convicted felons were seized and forfeited, the profit aspect would be 
removed.  No longer would it seem so attractive to the crooks.

We don't seem to be able to make our minds up whether marijuana possession, 
distributing and growing is serious enough to be considered a criminal 
offence and if it is what punishment should accompany a conviction.

Until the politicians and the courts come to a firm consensus and get their 
acts together, a great many police officers will be left in limbo, knowing 
that they may be risking their lives as they did in Alberta, for 
convictions that bear about the same level of penalty as a conviction for a 
traffic offence.

If it could be unanimously decided that marijuana is bad stuff, then go 
after the users, distributors and producers without fear or favour to the 
full extent of the law.  If that decision cannot be made then decriminalize 
it.

Let's put a little meaning into the cop's efforts.

Joseph Lederman

Plattsville  
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MAP posted-by: Beth