Here is an example of how effective our drug policy really is.
"The daughter of the top Kelowa cop and a constable in the detachment’s school liaison unit has been charged with possession of heroin and cocaine for the purpose of trafficking."
I don't see any special blame befalling her parents. She and her family's situation is the direct result of our policies on drugs. A sad day for her parents and her, but destined to be repeated endlessly in other Canadian families for zero benefit to our society.
Does anyone see the labeling begin here because of the association with "illegal drugs?" The father who was presumably a respected and good commanding officer until now, has been labelled top Kelowna "cop." They probably have the typical prototype family prone to having their children susceptable to substance abuse; both parents hard working and most likely strict. And which sly criminal wouldn't make use of (a) addicting the poor girl as she sought relief from her pains/stress, (b) then corrupting her into the business in the hopes of setting up a get out of jail free situation? Too bad our conservative federal criminals are such morons about human nature and so stupid to not see the vector our drug policy is taking will eventually cause the corruption of our entire society and all of our institutions.
I wonder if now some concerned courageous and honest mounties might speak up while they are still employed, unlike our former AG's who dared not to risk their jobs, and say what needs to be said about how detrimental the effects of our drug policy truly are?
I thank the members of the Kelowna detachment for doing the right thing: not informing their boss. This will in the end save his job for him and has for once earned my respect for the proper handling of their duties. He should not be affected by this in anyway. Most likely the Judge and crown will take into consideration the young girl's vulnerability under the circumstances she had to deal with. Thank God Judges still have discretion.
The truth is, for those who may wish to seek vengeance, that it does not matter how you punish this girl there will always be a next one to fill her spot . The harder you punish her (anyone) the more lucrative the business becomes. Another truth is: humans enjoy altering their modalities of thought with many different substances throughout the ages. Denying someone who engages in other less harmful substances, the same rights others enjoy while peacefully engaging in alcohol and tobacco, is neither good practice for a health care policy, nor is it a good law in a democracy if the goal was and is to reduce harm to our society, because it does the opposite. Tobacco addiction, which is as addictive as heroin and unlike heroin kills up to half of its users at great cost to society, has been reduced without legal threats to individuals, violence, and organized crime, law enforcement costs and prisons, from almost 50% use throughout the Canadian population in 1970, to under 20% today. Not a prison was built for smokers and there isn't even a criminal sanction for selling this addictive killer of a product to minors. Now, research the government figures for "controlled" drug use in minors, substance abuse and rates of addiction across the board through the same time period and compare these results with our success on tobacco through education.
Who, other than a psychopath, would ignore these facts to enforce on others their own conservative moral view, Mr. Harper, which apparently seems (as we see the evidence of election fraud mounting) to be criminal in nature?
ASP "According to some, there is little evidence of a cure or effective treatment for psychopathy; no medications can instill empathy, and psychopaths who undergo traditional talk therapy might become more adept at manipulating others and more likely to commit crime.[6] Others suggest that psychopaths may benefit as much as others from therapy. According to Hare, psychopathy stems from as yet unconfirmed genetic neurological predispositions and as yet unconfirmed social factors in upbringing.[7] A review published in 2008 indicated multiple causes, and variation in causes between individuals.[8]"
Is massive corruption not the actual goal of the Drug-Law makers? Just follow the money then formulate a response.
ReplyDeleteYes, it certainly seems that way..... What strikes me, mainly due to the tobacco law suite by Quebec enjoined by the federal government, is the hypocritical way the Government is blaming the tobacco companies when it was in charge of all control policies, the decision to regulate this dangerous substance separate from the Act which was created for that purpose (CDSA. The Canadian government actually raised billions of tax dollars knowing the dangers (at least they should have known as is their fiduciary duty to the citizens.) In 1996 the parliament made a conscious decision to exempt tobacco and alcohol under the control of the act it created to protect its citizens from the misuse of dangerous substances. The fact is that they needn't have prohibited use but rather than give a special legal monopoly to these substance producers and marketers, the government could have then distanced itself from these substances. If leaders had done their proper duty, warning and educating people about the dangers of all substances allowing/funding research into addiction and making it conducive for innovative new ideas to be implemented, millions would be alive and well today and billions of public money might have been saved in healthcare. Smoking marijuana has been proven to be actually beneficial to ones health. Think of the difference a free choice to use a safer substance than tobacco would have made over the decades. Canada might now be a world model in addiction prevention and harm reduction. We might have been helping to save millions more around the globe.
ReplyDeleteThink of the way it is now with the Quebec law suite. It is exactly like a criminal gang falling out over a larger slice of the pie. No one was concerned enough to actually do anything about the problem while it was going on. It was all about the money (and still is). Dam right this is all about corruption.