Pubdate: Thu, 08 Jun 2006
Source: Smithers Interior News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006, BC Newspaper Group
Contact:  http://www.interior-news.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1631
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n604/a06.html
Author: George Kosinski

COPS TERRORIZE PEACEFUL GARDENERS

Editor:

I was stunned by the RCMP's immature and inappropriate posturing as
reported in the May 10 edition of The Interior News.

Publicly threatening to visit terror and violence on gardeners of
unauthorized plants can hardly be considered acceptable in a
democratic society, especially in view of the fact that such threats
have never been addressed to murderers, rapists, child molesters, and
thieves -- all of whom make much less desirable neighbours than
gardeners growing plants that millions of people love.

Is there anyone left who fails to note the obvious, that allowing
individuals to grow a few plants for personal use, or legalizing and
regulating marijuana as alcohol and tobacco are regulated, would
eliminate 95 per cent of the grow-ops?

What would constitute an appropriate avenue of redress for this
dangerous verbal abuse by individuals allowed to carry guns in public
and to point them at people and threaten to shoot them?

At the very least, I believe Corporal Warren Brown should be required
to submit a statement to The Interior News offering his response to
the mission statement of the organization, Law Enforcement Against
Prohibition (http://www.leap.cc/), whose members include former and
current members of the law-enforcement industry.

The RCMP refers to its goal of "Safe Homes, Safe Communities," but
encouraging hatred and violence toward peaceful gardeners providing a
valuable service can hardly be viewed as increasing the safety of your
communities.

It's not about enjoying marijuana, it's about enjoying
liberty.

George Kosinski

Gibsons, B.C.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake