U.S. SLIDING DOWN THE DRUG SLOPE

Canada's Liberal Policies May Spill Across Border

U.S. officials should discourage Canada from adopting liberal drug policies
that could spill over into the United States.

On July 30, Canada became the first country in the world to allow its
citizens to possess marijuana for "medical" purposes. Canada has already
legalized the production of hemp, a form of marijuana, for industrial purposes.

Derek Lee, a member of the ruling Liberal party, said that decriminalizing
marijuana for recreational users is "not a complex issue" and "it is
possible that possession of marijuana may soon be no more serious than
getting a speeding ticket."

Even though many Canadians oppose liberalization, it may be only a matter
of time before Canada puts a match to most marijuana prohibitions. This
will add momentum to liberalization efforts in the United States.

There is a European precedent for this conclusion.

In 1984, the Dutch government adopted a liberal cannabis policy whereby
possession of small amounts of marijuana or hashish was decriminalized and
distribution at hundreds of so-called coffee shops was permitted. This
policy ushered in droves of tourists from neighbouring countries seeking
drugs, and today many of those countries have followed the Dutch lead.

Canada is already a major supplier of marijuana to the United States, and
decriminalization will make it worse. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police
estimates that much of the 800 tons of marijuana produced illegally in
Canada every year is shipped to the United States.

Decriminalization of marijuana will certainly encourage Canada's pot
producers to increase output. More "maple leaf" marijuana will flow into
the United States at lower prices and perhaps in more powerful varieties.
We can expect some U.S. citizens to travel north of the border to engage in
drug tourism, and a number of these will, no doubt, attempt to return home
with cars stuffed with cheap pot. Customs officials beware!

Although Canada prohibits marijuana production, its laws aren't rigorously
enforced. Magazines such as High Times, written for the marijuana
subculture, are filled with advertisements for Canadian-based marijuana
seed companies and drug paraphernalia merchants.

Canada's "medical" marijuana decision is another step toward drug
legalization. In the past, the use of marijuana for medical purposes
required a special government exemption. Now, Allan Rock, Canada's health
minister, who alleges he was forced by the courts to expand his country's
marijuana program, says, "This compassionate measure will improve the
quality of life of sick Canadians, particularly those who are terminally ill."

Under the new rules, three criteria must be met before the use of "medical"
pot will be approved: the user must be very sick or close to dying; a
doctor's voucher must be presented that says all remedies but marijuana
have failed; and a reliable supplier must be available.

While many patients will grow their own marijuana, others will turn to the
government. In December 2000, Canada licensed Prairie Plant Systems Inc. to
be a reliable source of marijuana for research purposes and for patients
licensed by the government. This contractor will grow 880 pounds of
marijuana annually in an abandoned mine in Manitoba and receive $3.7
million to do so.

Not everyone is pleased with Canada's policy. Peter Barrett, president of
the Canadian Medical Association, complains that doctors will bear the
brunt of deciding who should be allowed to use the drug. "We're being asked
to be the gatekeepers for a product that hasn't gone through any rigorous
testing." The reluctance of physicians is based on the fear that "everyone
who wants marijuana for recreational use will be on the doorstep, and then
we'll be the ones who have to say no," Barrett said.

Canadian courts have contributed to the drug liberalization trend. Last
summer, the Canadian health ministry blamed the Ontario Court of Appeals
for forcing its hand on the medical use of marijuana. Now, Canada's Supreme
Court is considering whether criminal charges for the personal use of
marijuana violate constitutional rights.

Conservative leader Joe Clark urges the elimination of criminal penalties
for possession of small amounts of marijuana. "It's unjust to see someone,
because of one decision one night in their youth, (to) carry the stigma,"
Clark said. Even Canadian Justice Minister Anne McLellan said she is "quite
open" to a debate on decriminalizing marijuana.

The Canadian Police Association represents 30,000 police officers and
provides a rare caution to these politically driven pro-drug views. They
released a statement saying there is a "weakening perception of risk of
harm in drug use, and weakening moral disapproval of drug use." Dale Orban,
the association's spokesman, said, "The costs of drug liberalization will
be astronomical, not only in terms of health care and social services, but
in true human terms."

Unfortunately, the United States is sliding down the same drug slope as
Canada. Nine states have embraced the use of pot as medicine. Even though
our Supreme Court recently ruled that the Controlled Substances Act made no
exception for the use of marijuana by ill people, that decision was narrow
and will certainly be tested further. More ballot initiatives aimed at
"medicalizing" or decriminalizing marijuana will test our resolve.

For the sake of both Canadian and U.S. citizens, Canada must reverse its
pro-drug direction.