CANADIAN DOCTORS WANT MARIJUANA DECRIMINALIZED

Brief To Senate Committee

Simple possession and personal use of marijuana should be removed from the
Criminal Code and instead be punishable only by a fine, concludes a medical
organization representing 52,000 doctors in Canada.

In a brief to a special Senate committee on illegal drugs, the Canadian
Medical Association added decriminalization of marijuana "must be done so
with the recognition that cannabis is an addictive substance and that
addiction is a disease."

"The CMA believes that resources currently devoted to combatting simple
marijuana possession through the criminal law could be diverted to public
health strategies, particularly for youth," Dr. Henry Haddad, the
association's president, told the panel.

He said having a criminal record limits employment prospects, resulting in
a profound impact on health status. "Use of a civil violation, such as a
fine, is a potential alternative," he added.

But he also said changes to the law affecting cannabis "must not promote
normalization of its use, and must be tied to a national drug strategy that
promotes awareness and prevention, and provides for comprehensive treatment."

The strategy, to include a National Cannabis Cessation Program, should be
developed by the federal government with the provinces, he said. It would
highlight the potential harm of cannabis use, including risk to pregnancy
and people with mental illness as well as chronic respiratory problems,
slower reaction times and impaired motor co-ordination. It would also
examine increased heart rates and dilated blood vessels, two symptoms of
cardiac disease.

The rate of cannabis offences has increased 34% since 1991, with cannabis
possession rates generally steadily increasing, the CMA brief notes. About
86% of those charged with cannabis offences are younger than 25.

Of the 66,500 drug incidents in Canada in 1997, more than 70%, or 47,908,
were cannabis-related. Of those, more than two-thirds, or 32,682, were for
possession. About 2,000 Canadians go to jail annually for possession of
marijuana, the medical brief states.

Dr. Haddad told the Senate committee the vast majority of financial
resources are now dedicated to combating illegal drugs by law enforcement.
"Government needs to re-balance this distribution and allocate a greater
proportion of these resources to drug treatment, prevention and
harm-reduction programs. Law enforcement activities should target the
distribution and production of illegal drugs," he said.

Drug use among teenagers is on the rise, the CMA submission also states. It
points to recent results from the 1999 Ontario Student Drug Use Survey. The
research found more than 29% of students in Grades 7-11 used cannabis,
compared to less than 12% in 1991. It also noted other illegal drug use by
students, including ecstasy, PCP, hallucinogens and cocaine.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine pushed for the
decriminalization of personal possession of all drugs, as long as it was
accompanied with government control over drug protection and distribution.

"Drug possession for personal use must be decriminalized and distinguished
from the trafficking or illegal sale and distribution of drugs to others
that must carry appropriate criminal sanctions," said Dr. William Campbell,
the society's national president.

The CMA brief notes in U.S. states such as California where cannabis has
been decriminalized, marijuana use has decreased.

"The issue is therefore whether there are less coercive ways to discourage
its use," the brief states.