MARIJUANA

It is time for the federal government to bring marijuana laws in line with
the views of most Canadians and the reality on the street.

A quarter of Canadians over the age of 15 years would have criminal records
if the current law was enforced to the hilt, according to one study.
Alberta Premier Ralph Klein, federal Health Minister Allan Rock and Ontario
Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty are among those who've confessed to having
had a toke.

The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, the RCMP and the Canadian
Medical Association are among a growing chorus calling for the
decriminalization of marijuana.

In an editorial published earlier this year, the Canadian Medical
Association Journal says a criminal record is too high a price to pay:
"This means that for anyone who's ever been caught with a stash in his or
her pocket, the question 'Have you ever had a criminal conviction?' during
a job application or medical school interview can force higher aspirations
to go up in a puff of smoke."

A recent poll by Leger Marketing says Canadians are evenly split over
whether to take the more dramatic step of legalizing marijuana for personal
use.

Simply put, smoking a joint -- illegal since the 1920s-- is no longer
viewed with the repugnance the public has for other criminal offences. In
fact, there are non-criminal offences that are of greater public concern.

A driver caught endangering himself and others by going 50 km/h over the
speed limit will get only a hefty ticket. But if the same person is caught
with a couple of marijuana cigarettes in his pocket, he faces the prospect
of having a criminal record.

It is not surprising that he will probably hire a lawyer and fight the drug
charge. Tens of thousands of Canadians have criminal records for possessing
marijuana and every year thousands more are added to the list. Prosecuting
these cases eats up an inordinate amount of court and police time. Those
who are convicted usually end up paying small fines.

It makes sense to change the law so that they will be ticketed, rather than
charged criminally.

The Canadian Police Association, which represents rank-and-file officers,
claims decriminalizing marijuana will weaken moral disapproval of drug use.
The reality is that the public attitude about marijuana has already made
the shift.

Instead of changing the law, Prime Minister Jean Chretien says the most he
is prepared to do is entertain more public debate. The debate has been
going on for 30 years. It is time to act.