Pubdate: Thu, 15 Dec 2011
Source: Kelowna Capital News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2011, West Partners Publishing Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.kelownacapnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1294

ALLOWING CRIMINALS TO BENEFIT

As the Conservative government uses its majority powers to effectively
silence debate on the Safe Streets and Communities Act, the growing
call for measures that would actually make our streets safer continues
to fall on deaf ears in Ottawa.

Last week, five Vancouver mayors past and present joined the 
chorus-one that includes police chiefs, economists and politicians of 
all political stripes -to overturn Canada's marijuana prohibition.

"Marijuana prohibition is -without question-a failed policy. It is 
creating violent, gang-related crime in our communities and fear among 
our citizens, and adding financial costs for all levels of government 
at a time when we can least afford them," stated a letter from former 
Vancouver mayors Larry Campbell, Michael Harcourt, Sam Sullivan and 
Phillip Owen. 

And the cause is nothing new. Back in 1991, Nobel Prize-winning 
conservative economist Milton Friedman noted: "If you look at the drug 
war from a purely economic point of view, the role of the government 
is to protect the drug cartel."

Canada's drug kingpins are no doubt relieved that Prime Minister 
Stephen Harper is in no hurry to end that protection. 

He was quick to rule out any consideration of changing the 
government's stance on marijuana-despite polling that shows the vast 
majority of Canadians disagree.

One need look no further than Canada's stance on tobacco - a drug most 
health experts contend is far more dangerous than marijuana. Tobacco 
use has witnessed a sharp and steady decline over the past 50 years. 

And this was achieved without building one more prison to house 
chain-smokers, but rather a commitment to education and regulation.

The government can fill the countryside with bigger and better 
prisons, but until the Conservatives begin to focus on the problem 
instead of ideology, the criminals will only get richer. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.