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Pot Penalties driving the violence
Editorial: Matt Bowen, Toronto Star (CN ON), 03-05-05

What Public Safety Minister Anne McLellan and the police don't understand is that it is the extreme marijuana growing penalties in this country that are driving the growers to use weapons against the police.

If there were no penalties for growing, or perhaps a small fine or fee, then many average marijuana users would probably consider growing their own.

This would immediately put an end to hostile confrontations between the police and growers that often result in a shootout.

The harsh penalties for a drug that is less dangerous than alcohol has driven marijuana distribution into the hands of dangerous organized crime groups.

The recreational use of marijuana by hundreds of thousands of people all over Canada is not something that any police officer should be dying over.

Matt Bowen, Roches Pt., Ont.

Rolo Commentary: As I have said before, I don't usually post editorials. However, this one is very well said.

© 2005 H.U.M.A.N.: Hemp Users Medical Access Network - Toronto Medical Marijuana