SENATORS PUSH TO LEGALIZE POT

Health Groups, Police Jeer Panel's Report

A Senate committee has unanimously called for the legalization of marijuana
in Canada, with government-licensed production and sale of the drug to any
Canadian over the age of 16.

However, the recommendations lit a fire Wednesday under the policing and
health communities in Alberta, which warned legalizing pot would have
disastrous results on society.

Conservative Senator Pierre-Claude Nolin, chairman of the special
committee, said more harm than good is being done by making marijuana
possession a criminal offence.

"Whether or not an individual uses marijuana should be a personal choice
that is not subject to criminal penalties," Nolin said. "We have come to
the conclusion that, as a drug, it should be regulated by the state as much
as we do for wine and beer, hence our preference for legalization over
decriminalization."

The committee also called for an amnesty for any person who has been
convicted of cannabis possession under current or past legislation, which
could include freeing prisoners who are serving time solely for a
marijuana-possession offence.

Law enforcement agencies in Alberta and across the country quickly
condemned the report.

"We're opposed to legalizing marijuana," said Staff Sgt. Roger Chaffin of
the Calgary Police Service drug unit. "We look at it as an illegal, harmful
drug. I can't see any positive outcome to the legalization of the product."

Meanwhile, Alberta health and addictions groups said they were especially
concerned about the impact legalization could have on young people.

Karen Hala, manager of community preventative services for the Alberta
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission, said the Senate's proposal would send
the wrong message to young Canadians and lead to increased pot smoking.

"(Decriminalizing marijuana) would certainly be a huge concern for us,"
Hala said. "I would be concerned about the youth of our society looking at
(pot smoking) like: 'Hey, this is no big deal.' "

Nolin and the committee's co-chairman, Liberal Senator Colin Kenny,
insisted the committee does not want to promote the use of marijuana,
particularly by young people.

The Senate committee concluded that keeping the drug illegal, but subject
to non-criminal laws, would not end its production and distribution by
organized crime gangs.

The Canadian Police Association promptly denounced the committee's
recommendations, saying Nolin and his colleagues began the study with the
belief that marijuana possession should be legalized and set about to prove
their case.

"We are appalled, but not surprised," said David Griffin, the association's
executive officer. "It (the committee report) is nothing more than a
back-to-school gift for drug pushers."

In its report, the committee concluded smoking pot is less harmful than
drinking alcohol. However, that conclusion was challenged by several health
groups across Canada.

Nigel Collishaw, spokesman for Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada, said:
"We don't need long-term studies to know . . . it is not a good idea to
inhale this stuff repeatedly."

Les Hagen, spokesman for the Alberta Lung Association, added "any
combustible material that's inhaled is harmful to your health -- and, the
higher the volume, the worse it is."

The committee estimated governments spend $300 million to $500 million
annually enforcing laws against marijuana and recommended the money be
redirected into drug abuse programs, preventive health programs and border
surveillance once marijuana is legalized.

The committee found Canada has one of the highest rates of cannabis use
among youth in the world, with 225,000 people in the 12-to-17 age group
using the drug daily. About one million youth in the same age bracket have
used cannabis in the previous year, the report said. Among adults, about
two million Canadians over age 18 have used cannabis in the past year.

The Senate committee suggested police spend too much time and resources
enforcing marijuana laws, and added the Canadian public generally supports
this view.

The report also said selling to those under the age of 16, and impaired
driving should remain illegal.

So far this year, Calgary police have seized $13 million in pot from
illegal grow operations. That's $4 million more than all of last year.

Chaffin said organized crime is already involved in producing and
distributing the drug. If marijuana is legalized, it would merely expand
the market for drug traffickers, he said.

RCMP officials, meanwhile, are taking a cautious approach.

Sgt. Paul Marsh of media relations in Ottawa said the Mounties are
reserving comment until they fully examine the report, which is more than
600 pages.

Calgary pot crusader Grant Krieger was pleased with the report, but doubted
its recommendations would be enacted. "I'm totally skeptical because of the
past actions of government. They say one thing and do another."

Krieger, who has multiple sclerosis, runs a compassion club for those who
use pot for medicinal purposes. He was given legal permission to use
marijuana for his illness, but he and his suppliers continue to get busted.

Federal Health Minister Anne McLellan declined to comment.

Federal Justice Minister Martin Cauchon, who has expressed support for
liberalizing drug laws, did not respond immediately to the Senate report.

The committee called on Ottawa to begin the process of legalization by
announcing a new drug policy this fall and holding a conference of
provincial governments and experts.