REEFER MADNESS IN THE BOARDROOMS

The Canadian Council of Chief Executives is both paternalistic and
unnecessarily fearful when it calls on the federal government to delay
the decriminalization of cannabis.

As the Citizen reported yesterday, the big-business lobby group is
worried about the possible effect of the proposed change on the health
and safety of workers, absenteeism and productivity. The council says
it wants more research done before Parliament approves a bill brought
in by Justice Minister Irwin Cotler this month.

The council is entitled to its opinion, but if the federal government
goes ahead with the long-overdue decriminalization of marijuana,
there's no reason to believe that workers across Canada will begin
showing up stoned. After all, alcohol is legal, and there's no
epidemic of workers coming in drunk. Managers shouldn't expect
employees to start smoking marijuana just because the penalty for
possession has been lightened -- as if hordes of Canadians wish they
could smoke up but are stopped short by pressing respect for the law.
Employers also shouldn't expect that people who already use cannabis
will decide it's OK for them to punch in reeking of dope.

Taking possession of small amounts of marijuana out of the criminal
system is an entirely sensible change to Canadian law that will see
tickets issued and fines paid for pot possession. Surely the days of
going to prison for having a joint in your jeans pocket should be behind us.

Canada's business executives have a fair business concern if they
oppose the Cannabis Reform Bill because it could lead to tie-ups in
transporting goods across the Canada-U.S. border because of more
border inspections. But a law that makes the justice system more
humane is in the interests of all Canadians, be they business leaders
or their employees.