SENDING MIXED MESSAGES

Our committee recommended first and foremost that the possession of
marijuana remain illegal and that trafficking remain a crime. People who
are caught with small amounts of cannabis, would, we felt, think twice if
they had to pay a substantial fine, and police officers would rather write
a ticket rather than charge someone.

Committee members don't want people to use substances like marijuana. There
are health risks.

Burlington MP Paddy Torsney after tabling the special committee report
titled Working Together to Redefine Canada's Drug Strategy

With the recent auditor general's scathing report highlighting the wasteful
spending by our federal government still fresh in the minds of most
Canadians, we're surprised a Commons committee has chosen now to handle a
hot-potato item such as decriminalizing marijuana possession.

Frankly, we think there are far more serious matters the government should
be dealing with, but since the committee has recommended Canadians should
be able to grow and use 30 grams of marijuana for personal use and be at
risk for only a ticket and fine, let's look at their recommendations.

We agree the cost of prosecuting people for simple marijuana possession is
a heavy burden on our criminal justice system and that, perhaps, it is
unfair a person could be saddled for life with a criminal record for opting
to light up when they were a foolhardy teenager.

But is the government not sending a very confusing message to Canadians,
especially its young people? On one hand we have Ottawa's anti-tobacco and
anti-alcohol messages, and now, on the other, the loosening of laws on
marijuana possession. How are parents supposed to interpret this for their
kids?

And, letting pot possessors carry 30 joints with no fear of criminal
prosecution won't help keep marijuana away from our teens and out of our
schools -- which should be at the top of the list of concerns.

We hope in the months ahead, as this recommendation steams toward becoming
law, the main message, from both the government and media, will be that ALL
drug use should be discouraged.

Have a healthy new year, everyone!