Pubdate: Wed, 17 Oct 2007 Source: Maple Ridge News (CN BC) Copyright: 2007 Maple Ridge News Contact: http://www.mapleridgenews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1328 Author: Harry B. Battle MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES THAN POT Editor, The News: Re: 18 months for selling pot to cops (The News, Oct. 13). It is truly sad that we fill the front half of our local newspaper with such a nothing story. Surely, there are actions and crimes of which we should be more aware and interested. Other than the problem, despite the mayors' statements, of widespread drug abuse in our municipality, there are other factors which could be crowding our minds. Our judiciary has gone to hell in a basket. The judges have lost all sense of justice. It is incredible they hold a lower place than lawyers in credibility, based on a national survey. Imagine, being held lower than lawyers? One cannot get lower than that. It has scientifically been proven that marijuana does not lead to harder drug use. Just as cigarettes, a most addicting drug, do not lead to cocaine. Let our local, well-respected and award-winning paper focus on what is important and relevant. I realize that the story is based on a local merchant, but let us concentrate on the immediate problems we have here in Maple Ridge. Were marijuana legalized, there would not be a story. Before anyone gets heart palpitations with that comment, remember that abolition did not stop people drinking, but it did increase crime over 100 per cent. I am sure that many citizens, including me, would be happy and eager to be part of a fact-finding, solution-generating group to deal with such problems as juvenile delinquency, judicial partiality, council partisanship, street refuse problems (fining those stores three blocks from their operation who do not daily pick up their 'sold' refuse) and vandalism. We have great local exposure with our papers and we have a glorious God-given environment. Let us concentrate on what is important and forget the little stuff. Harry B. Battle Maple Ridge - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom