MARIJUANA MANIA

Turn on a news broadcast or open the pages of many Canadian newspapers these
days and on most days you'll find yet another story on marijuana. Whether it
be the latest government decision to allow more sick people (to) use it, a
court case about why it should be decriminalized or the latest strides made
by law enforcement in combatting it, it would seem the whole country is
going to pot.

And it isn't just the fact that Nelson sometimes feels like the centre of
some great cannabis universe. It's everywhere. It's being talked about on
late night talk shows and on the CBC. Columnists are writing about average
joes with possession records that can't get into the States. Conservatives
are decrying an apparent liberalization of views. In this past year or so,
we've seen a huge increase in coverage of marijuana-related issues: a kind
of annus-cannabis.

Generally, when issues move to the forefront with the speed that this one
did it means there is change coming. An increase in public dialogue
indicates that taboos are being broken and people are more comfortable
speaking their mind. Even the federal government, traditionally the slowest
moves (mover) in recognizing social change, is starting to make rumbles -
there is a shift on the horizon.

Does that mean the decriminalization of marijuana? All signs would indicate
that we're moving that way. Whether that's a change for the better is a
debate that should keep marijuana on the front pages for the foreseeable future.