It was a political judgement to send Kelly Van Gallen to prison, says a reader.
It was a political judgement to send Kelly Van Gallen to prison, says a reader.
It is enough for good men to do nothing to allow evil to flourish. Judge John McDonald is a good man. To say he was troubled by his decision to sentence Mrs van Gaalen to prison, is ridiculous. This was a political judgment.
His position is to apply the law,but when the law is flawed, who better to send a protest. The pro-cannabis argument is promoted by the wrong people for the wrong reasons. Dope heads standing around in front of Parliament smoking herb?
The whole thing is bigger than people's recreational choices. People from the beginning of time have chosen to detach themselves from reality with a tipple or a smoke, Judge McDonald included.
In this country, alcohol is freely available to all, is universally abused and costs the country millions in lost production, family violence, work and road "accidents" and illness.
If cannabis was legalised, it would free up half the court and corrections load, reduce gang income and influence, free up police time and the nature of cannabis use is typically calming as opposed to the aggravation caused by alcohol abuse.
Perhaps it's time to ignore the emotive and view the issue from a financial standpoint. The IRD might even benefit.
Judge McDonald, reverse your decision and let a woman get on with her life, family and community.
And consider, imagine, when one of your sons stands in front of the court, caught with a few too many grams of the good stuff. Would you be happy to visit him in jail for the two long years?
