Pubdate: Mon, 07 Mar 2005 Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC) Copyright: 2005 The Vancouver Sun Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477 Author: Tim Reichert Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Rochfort+Bridge (Rochfort Bridge) WAR ON MARIJUANA STUPID AND SENSELESS How very sad when brave and noble men lose their lives in a senseless war. No, I am not talking about Iraq. I am talking about a far more senseless war. The war on marijuana. In this ridiculously stupid war, we send our bravest and finest to battle an enemy created by ourselves that should not exist. Marijuana is not the reason that four RCMP officers lost their lives last Thursday. Marijuana prohibition is the reason that mothers lost their sons, wives lost their husbands and children lost their fathers. Marijuana prohibition created and supports the criminals who shot them dead. More good people will continue to die until we realize that we have not outlawed a drug, we have created an illegal industry that thrives on our blind ignorance of reality. To organized crime, marijuana prohibition is like an investor in their company. It is a licence to print money. In fact, violent crime organizations stand on the same side as the politicians who oppose decriminalization. Clamping down harder on marijuana grow operations and more police raids will not put these criminals out of business, legalizing marijuana will. We have the power to end this senseless bloodshed. Will we ever be brave enough to do it? Tim Reichert Vancouver - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom