DRUG LAWS ARE INCOHERENT

Some recent news items: Nineteen soldiers from the Royal 22nd
Regiment, 17 of them all but packed for assignment to Afghanistan,
have tested positive for drug use. Army investigators aren't saying
what drug, but the suggestion is it's marijuana.

Newspapers reported last week the federal justice department asked
crown attorneys to drop charges against a Toronto "compassion club"
marijuana cafe. The same thing happened in Montreal 14 months ago.

Meanwhile, doctors at Montreal's psychiatric hospitals worry growing
use of marijuana by patients, right in the hospitals, is complicating
treatment.

Taken together, these stories reveal more clearly than ever the
incoherence - drifting toward mere anarchy - of Canadian marijuana law
and enforcement.

Marijuana imposes serious social costs, and there is certainly no
consensus in favour of outright legalization. Nor should there be. But
crossed signals from Ottawa, the relentless pressure of the
legalization lobby, and the natural reluctance of police and the
courts to uphold a law they suspect is dying all are rapidly creating
de facto legalization.

Ottawa must make a new marijuana law a priority. It should end
criminal penalties for possession of small amounts, while maintaining
and enforcing the law against selling, importing and growing.

Prime Minister Paul Martin and the appropriate ministers should bring
in a bill but also speak about this issue. Martin needs to defend the
policy vigourously, repeatedly, and energetically, so do the ministers
of health, justice, and law enforcement. The change of regimes in
Ottawa has complicated the issue, and other issues. But legalization
by abdication would be simply irresponsible.