Pubdate: Tue, 13 Nov 2007 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2007 The Province Contact: http://www.canada.com/theprovince/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/walters.htm (Walters, John) WE NEED TO BE WARY OF SIMPLE SOLUTIONS TO B.C.'S DRUG WARS As a follow-up to the continuing news coverage of bloody gang warfare in Metro Vancouver, it was interesting to read a story over the weekend by Province reporter John Colebourn about how our local marijuana industry is spreading its deadly tentacles into the U.S. Since June, at least three people are reported to have been killed in Washington state in murders linked to B.C.'s multibillion-dollar pot business. And Lt. Rich Wiley, of Washington State Patrol's narcotics program, says police increasingly find themselves up against Canadian criminals, as marijuana growers from B.C. set up shop there. "We are ramping up efforts, but more needs to be done," Wiley told the Everett Herald. "We don't want the state to turn into B.C." The irony is shocking. For years,we have prided ourselves on the belief that Canada is not as violent a country as the U.S. and doesn't suffer from the same serious crime problems. Now, it appears, the shoe is on the other foot. Crime appears to have gotten so bad here we are actually exporting it across the border. Liberal Sen. Larry Campbell, the former Vancouver city major, says the solution is simple: Legalize pot. And Campbell calls those who disagree with him either "stupid" or, in the case of White House drug czar John Walters, a "moron." Maybe the biggest stupidity, though, is that of those who still think there's a simple solution to a B.C. problem that's taken years to take deep root - namely a virulent drug culture nourished by asleep-at-the-switch politicians. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek