Re: The Morning Star article of April 4, regarding the majority of Enderby’s city council endorsing the decriminalization of marijuana.
First, congratulations to Enderby’s city council for their stand which, essentially, is a statement on the futility of using prohibition as a tool for controlling the demand for marijuana. Indeed, the continuing prohibition and the proceeds of crime that it induces, has all of the trademarks of years past, during the “roaring twenties”, when the same thing was tried – unsuccessfully, it must be added – with alcohol.
Secondly, shame on our federal MP, Colin Mayes, and those others whose dinosaur views are simply a page from that past and, sadly, it must be stated, reflect the status quo.
A status quo, it must be added, that uses the criminal justice system and its penalties to try to prohibit and punish what is clearly a health and educational issue.
After all, we do not use the criminal justice system to identify and seek out those addicted or otherwise abusing prescription pharmaceuticals such as pain killers, and psycho-tropic/mood altering drugs. No, we use education and the health care system.
And, by any comparison, the abuse of prescription pharmaceuticals far outweighs the use of marijuana. In fact, it is epidemic in our society and culture and the costs to society are enormous.
By way of comparison, the costs for the criminal justice system and its oft proclaimed “war on drugs” is in the order of billions of dollars each year, and yet the rate of interdiction remains abysmally low – around 10 per cent – and hasn’t changed much for literally decades.
As one who has worked previously in the criminal justice system for about 25 years, in a variety of capacities (correctional worker; probation officer; director of the major provincial detention facility for youth; and as a warden for a maximum security adult remand prison in Vancouver) I can say, unequivocally, that the stand and position taken by the majority of Enderby’s city council is the only sensible way forward.
What’s more, it is a view shared, in my view, by the majority of those I worked with in the criminal justice system including law enforcement personnel as well as the legal profession.
Bob Hagman, Enderby
