Pubdate: Thu, 12 Jul 2007
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 The Province
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n829/a09.html
Author: K. Byrnes

SUPPORTING ORGANIZED CRIME

If anyone has their head in the sand over the pot debate, it is 
former MP Randy White, not Larry Campbell.

It has been estimated that pot brings in $6 billion a year for criminals.

And even if that number is exaggerated, one can imagine the amount is 
at least half that. The reason for this is that pot is very common.

That these dollars are supporting organized crime, instead of being 
put into health care or education, makes me wonder what the 
Conservative government is thinking. It is not just those on the 
outer fringes of society who smoke pot. It is not only criminals or 
"bad" guys who partake.

It is time to recognize this, and quit wasting valuable police and 
court time and money that could be better used to fight things that 
really cause society distress.

K. Byrnes, Vancouver
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom