IN OTHER WORDS

What Are They Smoking?

More proof that marijuana is bad for your brain: The federal government
plans to decriminalize small amounts because it's harmless, and double the
penalty for growing it because it's lethal.

To add to the confusion, Justice Minister Martin Cauchon went to Washington
to explain the new legislation to the Americans before he explained it to
members of Parliament, because we're fiercely independent.

But the government says there is no contempt of Parliament in telling
President George W. Bush the details before revealing them to the House of
Commons because there is no bill yet. Cauchon says the government is
changing the law on maximum penalties for growing marijuana "to send a
better message, as well, that the use of cannabis is illegal in Canada."

Does he really think that most Canadians don't already know that? The
government has yet to explain why it needs to double the maximum penalty
for growing marijuana, particularly when courts rarely impose the maximum
penalty now. Nor has it explained its sudden decision to reduce the amount
of pot someone will be allowed to possess -- to 15 grams from 30 -- without
being subject to a charge.

It's hard not to conclude the Liberals are making this up as they go along.

Special to The Province Ottawa Citizen editorial, Distributed by CanWest
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