| I read with interest your most recent editorial on grow houses and how to stop them. (The Publisher’s Page, REM, May).
It is simplistic to say the least to expect that legalizing marijuana will eliminate illegal grow operations. The vast majority of marijuana grown by organized crime is not for domestic consumption. Most is exported into the U.S. and this would continue despite legalization. To expect our friends south of the 49th parallel to follow our lead with similar changes to their laws is optimistic at best. It has been widely reported that marijuana grown in B.C. has been traded for illegal guns and cocaine in the U.S. and that these items are then smuggled back into Canada. Organized crime also controls the methamphetamine production in Canada, which brings a new threat to the landlord — the meth lab. Would you then suggest we make meth production a legal activity in this country? One can only imagine the repercussions to our trade relations with the U.S. if we became officially designated as an illicit drug-producing nation. The Americans would punish us with a severity that would make the mad cow and softwood lumber disputes seem like trivial matters. The negative impact on our economy would be enormous. Until our politicians take organized crime in this country seriously and effectively implement measures to deal with this menace, the situation is only going to get worse. Simplistic measures such as suggested in your editorial are not a viable solution. Marc Haslam |
