'THIS TEACHES YOUNG PEOPLE THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH SMOKING POT'

SFU criminologist Neil Boyd says the proposed marijuana laws bring some
common sense -- and some mixed messages -- to Canada's treatment of pot users.

"I think it sends a message that adults who consume marijuana in private
won't be treated as criminals," said Boyd, the father of an adult child.
"But it sends a mixed message, because there's no legal way to obtain it."

Boyd said public education is the key to keep drug users from abusing
drugs. "I think the key is education -- in 1965, 50 per cent of adults
smoked tobacco; today, it is 20 per cent."

But other parents are worried about the message the new marijuana laws will
send to teens.

"One would think reducing the penalty would undermine the DARE program,"
said B.C. Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils president Terri Watson.

The DARE program -- Drug Abuse Resistance Education -- is a mainstay at
B.C. schools.

Watson said with decriminalizing simple possession, "parents will need to
be vigilant" in making sure their teens are hitting the books and not
smoking up.

In Surrey, school trustee Heather Stilwell said the proposed new laws give
"a very troubling and wrong message to the young people. They [federal
government] should keep it illegal to smoke pot. This teaches young people
there's nothing wrong with smoking pot."

Surrey MP Chuck Cadman, the Alliance Party justice critic, said the
legislation is a step in the wrong direction.

"I have serious reservations about this bill," he said.

"In my view it will have little, if any, impact on marijuana grow-ops.

"And, obviously, coming from Surrey, I've got a real problem with grow-ops."