Pubdate: Sun, 31 Aug 2003 Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB) Copyright: 2003 The Edmonton Journal Contact: http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134 Author: Brian L. Fish HYSTERICAL POLICE SEE DRUG WAR FUNDS SLIPPING AWAY Re: "New national police group takes in Ottawa," Journal, Aug. 27. Are these Canadian police or agents of a foreign power? The police lobbying against reform of the law relating to marijuana is alarming, being based as it is on myth, propaganda and the cynical manipulation of the legitimate concern parents might have about "pushers" selling their children drugs. The Canadian Police Association made similar representations to The Canadian senate committee which heard all sides but still concluded that there was no rational basis for marijuana's illegality in the first place and said "this is a crusade that has to stop." Canadian courts regularly hear self-styled police "experts" trained by the DEA testifying as to how "organized crime" is moving into the marijuana growing business, but fortunately the courts are beginning to realize that it is the prohibition of this otherwise freely growing weed that is producing more harms (including organized crime) than the drug itself. The police, increasingly hysterical at their loss of power in the current trend towards tolerance of marijuana, and also seeing the possibility of funding for their crusade slipping away, continue to quote tired old mantras conveniently coined south of the border by the DEA (where, incidentally, they get much of their brutal SWAT training and indoctrination). I note also that the police lobby wants more funds redirected from the ill-designed gun registry to more "enforcement." That would be nice if such enforcement were to be at the border and designed to stop the smuggling of handguns that become involved in approximately 50 per cent of the weapons crimes committed in Canada each year. So what's wrong with this picture? Our police jump to a tune called by the DEA when it comes to the movement of marijuana south to the U.S., but remain silent when it comes to the much more dangerous passage of guns coming in the opposite direction! A handful of MPs (Dan McTeague, Brenda Chamberlain, Roger Galloway and Judi Longfeld) were recently castigated for seeking U.S. support to defeat the Canadian government legislation decriminalizing marijuana. Perhaps federal Solicitor General Wayne Easter should remind police that their parroting of the DEA party line is not acceptable from a Canadian police force. Brian L. Fish, Edmonton - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin