YOU'RE STILL RESPONSIBLE

Last week, the owners of a long-running head shop in Nelson were
handed down jail time for selling marijuana out of their store. They
claimed they did so to counter the presence of dealers who started
pushing drugs on the street. The store owners argued that the dealers'
product isn't always clean; so by selling pure bud in a controlled
setting, they were actually providing a public service. They also
claimed to have only sold to adults.

Regardless of if you agree, disagree or are indifferent to their
argument-it makes no difference. They knowingly broke the law.

But the case does cause one to consider the substances that are legal
to sell (and use), especially around the holidays. Mothers Against
Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada estimates that between 1,500 and 1,700
Canadians are killed annually due to alcohol and drug related crashes,
and it's estimated that one-third of all cancer deaths in Canada are
tobacco related - yet both are legal.

As the New Year rings in, those who resolve to make 2009 smoke free
will savour one last drag before butting out. Their struggle with the
addiction is a personal one. Adults are deemed responsible enough to
make the decision about whether or not to smoke, yet so much suffering
would be eliminated if tobacco was illegal and, therefore, not readily
available.

Smokers would raise a stink (figuratively) if cigarettes were subject
to the same legislature as marijuana. It's their right to smoke if
they want to, they would say. But how many of those smokers don't wish
they could quit?

The RCMP will saturate cities across the country with road blocks
tonight. They don't do this because, when left to their own
discretion, people's decision-making skills aren't compromised after
consuming large amounts of alcohol. The uprising that would emerge if
alcohol was prohibited again would certainly shake bottles from the
wall. But how many of those responsible for causing drinking and
driving related deaths and injuries on the cusp of the New Year set
out to do so when celebrations began?

But does that mean that tobacco and alcohol should be prohibited, or
marijuana should be legalized? And for that matter, should unhealthy
foods be banned as well, since obesity rates exemplify that
"responsible adults" clearly aren't moderating their intake?

But, hypotheticals aside, it is the responsibility of each individual
to make decisions pertaining to the cigarettes, alcohol and junk food
that are readily available. That said, addictions and habits-no matter
their form-are extremely challenging to overcome. It's not realistic
to resolve to change a big part of your lifestyle on New Year's cold
turkey. Chances are you'll fail at some point and begin the quitting
countdown again for 2010.

This all or nothing attitude is convenient because it allows you to
give up completely. Instead, plan to make attainable baby steps toward
your goal; and resolve to make 2009 the year you don't give up trying.
And arrange your ride home from New Year's celebrations ahead of
time-before you start drinking.