Editor: It was reported recently in the news that there is growing concern in Mexico and the U.S. about drugs and drug gangs and crime 'bringing down' Mexico. Can Canada be far behind? James Charles Langley [end]
Editor: Re: Tom Fletcher's column (The Times, Jan. 14). RCMP marijuana eradication efforts are no doubt well-intended, but ultimately counterproductive. The drug war's distortion of immutable laws of supply and demand causes big money to grow on little trees. Canadian tax dollars are wasted on anti-drug strategies that only make marijuana growing more profitable. In 2002, the Canadian Senate offered a common sense alternative to prohibition when the Special Committee on Illegal Drugs concluded that marijuana is relatively benign, marijuana prohibition contributes to organized crime, and law enforcement efforts have little impact on patterns of use. [continues 212 words]
Editor: Tom Fletcher (Drug Investments Climbing, The Times, Jan. 14), isn't just accurately describing the way things are - he's describing the direction things are moving too. In the early 1970s, the Le Dain Commission's report and Canada's 2002 Senate Committee on Illegal Drugs report unanimously recommended regulating cannabis (marijuana) the same way as alcohol. Since Canada ignored those recommendations, the problems associated with prohibiting the relatively safe, socially acceptable, God-given plant cannabis have escalated. And it's not limited to Canada; look at what's happening in the U.S. and Mexico. [continues 138 words]
There's one area of B.C. business investment that's seen a boom in rural areas. Unfortunately, it's organized crime. You may have heard the saga of Likely, a tiny community east of Williams Lake. Last fall RCMP confirmed results of a two-year investigation that found eight properties with buildings fitted for large-scale marijuana growing. At least one of those has been seized under civil forfeiture legislation, a powerful new tool in targeting proceeds of crime. Nine Lower Mainland residents, all with Asian names, were charged. [continues 671 words]
Editor: Each day after school, I have to wait for a bus at the bus loop on Logan Avenue, which is a pain, due to the nature of the area around the station. That bus loop is nothing more than a disgusting rathole that has become patronized by young dope fiend punks who have nothing better to do but deal drugs in broad daylight and prey on innocent people, if no one else is around. They also spend their days smoking crack outside the casino, an ugly building which has contributed to Langley's downfall from once being a peaceful town. [continues 228 words]
On Saturday Nov. 8, a new transition house for women opened in Langley. Healthy Living Minister Mary Polak, MLA for Langley, was on hand with other officials to officially open Campbell Valley House of Hope, operated by the Wagner HIlls Farm Society. According to BC Housing, the new housing unit has 14 beds for women in addiction recovery and will provide support services and rehabilitation. Those who use the house will receive lessons in job skills, social skills and farm work before they are integrated back into the community. Wagner Hills will also have a staff member on hand at all times. [continues 284 words]
Repeal Now Called For After Challenge From Retailer Langley City council is looking to repeal a 1995 bylaw prohibiting stores from selling hemp products. It turns out that several stores in the downtown have been carrying hemp items for years, from beauty products, clothing to hand cream and soap. Hemp beer is even sold in the provincially-run B.C. Liquor stores. "Back then, we thought hemp was marijuana," said City Councillor Gayle Martin. She has been on council 18 years. "Now we know there is a difference between the legal and illegal stuff." [continues 131 words]
Hempyz is legitimate. After refusing the pot plant novelty store a business licence, Langley City has done an about-face. "I went to City Hall on Nov. 6 to dispute the $100 per day fines [for operating a business without a licence] and staff asked me if I would like to fill out a business license," said Hempyz owner Randy Caine. City head planner Gerald Minchuk confirmed that Hempyz was granted a license after removing all the hemp products from the store. [continues 160 words]
Editor: Do we want a mayor who will hang a cannabis flag over City Hall? During the last federal NDP nomination race in Langley, Langley City mayoral candidate Ron Abgrall went on at length about how all of our country's problems would be solved if only we would legalize marijuana. He offered no other vision for the party or for the country. Luckily, the majority of NDP supporters in the room looked past the ramblings of Abgrall and instead chose Andrew Claxton. On Nov. 15, ask yourself, do you want a mayor who would put his marijuana agenda ahead of your needs. I think the City of Langley has enough grow-ops, don't you? Angel Claypool Langley [end]
Peter Fassbender wants voters to look at his track record when it comes to his bid for re-election as Langley City mayor. "I've lived here 32 years, I'm committed and have worked hard to make a difference. I consider this a full-time job and I know the pulse of the community," he said. Fassbender recognizes that crime and safety are still top of mind for most residents. "We are just putting together our Crime Prevention Strategy for the City. I'm in contact with the RCMP on a daily basis on issues. We are getting foot patrols walking our streets. That is rolling out this month. We've had a number of significant initiatives to go after drug dealers and prostitution," he said. [continues 727 words]
Editor: The controversy over the hemp store amazes me, and shows how conservative opinion can run wild. Down the street in both directions, they sell beer, wine and spirits, which cause by far more damage to everyone. Drinking and driving and spousal abuse are just two problems that alcohol creates. Yet we have a mayor who has a conservative view prevailing over a man who just wants to do business. Although I don't smoke the stuff myself, I like to think that I am intelligent enough to know that anyone who does is harmless. What confuses the mayor is the fact that growing marijuana brings on violence amongst gangsters trying to make a fast buck. Mr. Fassbender needs to think the issue through. Clayton Randle Langley [end]
The B.C. Supreme Court decision upholding Surrey's Public Safety Inspection Team, but not allowing RCMP officers to search homes as part of the process, will also be felt in Langley. Langley Township's team is based on the Surrey model, developed by Surrey fire chief Len Garis as a result of growing concerns about the fire and safety hazards posed by electrical bypasses and other aspects of growing marijuana in homes. A planned search by the Surrey team of a large home that used a high amount of power was stopped when the homeowners refused to allow RCMP officers into the home. They had no problem with the team doing an inspection, but felt that police were there to look for potential issues leading to an application to obtain a search warrant. The power was turned off to the couple's home for several days, but it was restored and an eventual inspection by a qualified electrical inspector turned up no problems. [continues 261 words]
A recent B.C. Supreme Court decision allowing Surrey's Public Safety Inspection Team to continue will affect decisions made in Langley, said Township fire chief Doug Wade. The court upheld Surrey fire department's initiative to clamp down on homes suspected of containing marijuana grow operations. However, it ruled that police are no longer allowed to attend the home inspections. "We aren't exactly sure what our plan B will be if RCMP can't accompany the team," said Wade on Wednesday. "It poses some challenges." [continues 194 words]
A landmark B.C. Supreme Court decision has upheld Surrey's initiative to clamp down on homes suspected of containing marijuana grow operations. However, police are no longer allowed to attend the home inspections. Surrey fire chief Len Garis launched the initiative in March, 2005, after a successful pilot project. Homeowners with high power consumption are notified they will be subject to an inspection. If the homeowner refuses, or a grow operation is found, the power to the home is shut off. [continues 599 words]
Editor: In The Times of Oct. 24, a etter headlined "End prohibition and support people's choices" by Marc Emery said "Ending prohibition is the only way to satisfy those who oppose social disorder and also understand that adult humans in a free society are entitled to consume cannabis without criminalization. Politicians who favour prohibition are the drug lords' best friends." With all due respect for your correspondent, what he is implying, what he is clearly suggesting, is that all our troubles would be solved overnight if we would just allow him and all the other drug addicts who cannot face reality to be left alone and do their thing. [continues 68 words]
Editor: Re: "Weeding out drug houses" (The Times, Oct 19) The best way to shut down dangerous drug houses run by organized crime is with a system of legal regulation and control of plants and drugs. Prohibition gives organized crime many billions of dollars in revenue every year, and maximizes or creates the dangers associated with plants and drugs, and marginalizes the most vulnerable members of society. Prohibition causes corruption, disrespect for the rule of law and law enforcement, clogs the justice system, and criminalizes harmless people. Canada has prohibited plants since 1908. We need a new strategy, after 100 years of the same old thing. Doesn't it seem unnatural to prohibit plants? [continues 106 words]
Editor: Frank Bucholtz in his editorial 'Complex challenges,' (The Times, Oct. 22) surmises: "The public wants to see less crime, more police availability and safe streets for all. For this to happen, society must decide what to do about illegal drugs - and at the same time agree that crime cannot be tolerated." I agree, and so do the five million Canadian pot smokers who buy from British Columbia's second largest industry (after construction) - cannabis. This B.C. agricultural reality employs 250,000 growers and sellers within the province to service the five million Canadians and additional millions of Americans. [continues 156 words]
Protecting home buyers from investing in a former grow-op or meth lab depends on each municipality's records or lack thereof, say realtors across the Fraser Valley who gathered in Langley City on Thursday. The Township doesn't keep records of illegal drug operations found in houses. But in Abbotsford, a grow-op would show up on the title search, say local realtors. In Surrey, a bylaw infraction shows up on the tax notice, but that flag would be taken off the title once the home was brought back up to code. In Chilliwack, a Freedom of Information request is required for privacy concerns. [continues 483 words]
To put a dent in grow ops and meth labs, it's time to consider the problem a public safety issue and get away from relying on a 'failed' court system, said Surrey fire chief Len Garis at a forum held in Langley City on Thursday. "B.C. Bud is potentially a $12 billion industry. If we take away organized crime's ability to earn money, we win," Garis said to the more than 100 realtors, politicians, bylaw and police officers who attended the half-day forum put on by the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board at the Cascades Convention Centre. [continues 912 words]
Editor: Edy D. in his letter (The Times, Oct. 5) did get one thing right. If every child had a happy, carefree, loving childhood, there would be far fewer drug users. There would however still be some, from genetic aberrations and other factors we cannot understand today. All drugs are bad. So are alcohol, tobacco, gambling, overeating, undereating, making caustic statements, having a bad attitude, etc. If we look at the history of drugs, we find marijuana has been in use for some 8,000 years, opium and its by-products for 4,000 years and cocaine for a similar period of time. They only became illegal in the 1920s, and since then we have spent billions of dollars in efforts to exclude them from society. [continues 344 words]
