Pubdate: Tue, 9 Feb 2010 Source: Daily Pilot (Costa Mesa, CA) Copyright: 2010 Daily Pilot Contact: http://www.dailypilot.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/578 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n093/a11.html Author: Doug Snead POLICE SHOULDN'T TARGET CANNABIS I am writing about your article ("Pot clinic raid nets 4 arrests," Feb. 6). While I applaud the work of the Costa Mesa police when they're at work fighting real crime - like murders, rapes, robberies, aggravated assaults, violent crime and theft - I have a hard time understanding how arresting peaceful people who are involved with medical marijuana helps anyone. Anyone except the Arrest and Prosecution Industry, that is. Police, prosecutors and others who get paychecks because of marijuana prohibition, like it. A simple phone call from the city might be the best thing to try first when there are ostensible concerns over the smell of cannabis. Cannabis vendors in "bikini tops and nurse hats" is a sure indication that the war on marijuana users has become a farce. It is time to add a little common sense to the equation and remove cannabis from the war on drugs. Doug Snead Drug policy analyst Media Awareness Project - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake