Pubdate: Tue, 27 Nov 2012
Source: Kelowna Capital News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012, West Partners Publishing Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.kelownacapnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1294
Author: Darrin Fiddler

LEGALIZING POT WOULD HELP CURB ACTIVITIES OF CRIMINAL GANGS

To the editor:

"That's just the way life is."

That's the message I get from recent letters in the Capital News 
written by Dave Lawrence and Tom Neave.

They're saying that things can't change, so deal with it. Nothing 
like some constructive criticism, but when their writing provides no 
options, it's downright destructive.

Legalization and regulation of marijuana is not the panacea to cure 
the criminal gangs corroding society, but it would sure put a dent in 
their wallets.

Also, refusing to make changes is to keep the power in the hands of 
the criminals.

Mr. Lawrence then goes on by knocking the quality of pot doled out to 
the medical marijuana program.

For quality, B.C. has a plethora of gifted growers to pick from if 
the government can't provide good green.

A product's quality will improve as competition increases; this is 
simple economics.

Currently, this competition is non-existent, but once in place will 
be the determinant of price.

As per availability, it already is available to teenagers (and 
younger) and can be obtained 24/7.

Legalization won't change this immediately, but it will provide at 
least a rudder to steer these unclaimed seas.

Legalization will not cure the problem, but it will at least create a 
system where currently none exists.

 From there, we can work the bugs out. Smuggling will continue as it 
does with alcohol, cigarettes and imitation Gucci bags, but it will 
be a trickle compared to the current torrent.

As for Mr. Neave knocking "the great tax influx," I'd rather have 
part of that $7 billion going towards taxes than all of it going to 
the underground economy.

If drug enforcement insists on playing their games, at least use this 
new tax to fight it rather than dipping into our education and 
healthcare kitties.

Besides, tax income is only part of the equation. An intelligent law 
would result in savings in areas like law enforcement and health 
care, and create extra income from textiles and biofuels.

Neave claims that the Union of B.C Municipalities is taking a step 
back by trying to legalize pot; so moving forward must equate to 
harsher laws. Yeah, I'm sure that will help.

As for his naive list of other possible legalizations (child 
porn/slavery?), he provides the argument to how regulation can work 
for us-it already limits those illicit acts, although, I can't say 
that slavery and rape are currently within our rights as Canadians.

For the record, smoking is not the only way to ingest marijuana. It 
can be baked into goods or distilled into oil as well.

In essence, legalization will create a new market and can change the 
economy for the better.

If laws restrict the availability of nicotine and alcohol, it can do 
the same for pot.

Creating a market will set its own quality demands and competition 
for affordability.

Darrin Fiddler,

Kelowna GS
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