HOW PM CAN RESPOND TO THOSE MARIJUANA QUESTIONS

Prime Minister Stephen Harper threw down a challenge to millions of
computer-savvy Canadians last Tuesday when he invited their questions
through the medium of YouTube. And Canadians complied, throwing a
horde of complaints, quizzes and diatribes at the prime minister, on
topics ranging from climate change to prorogation. Perhaps
surprisingly, the most common questions focused on his government's
approach to the control of marijuana. I thought it might be helpful if
I provided him with a little advice by suggesting responses to some
popular questions. It appears he was paying attention.

Mr. Harper, Why aren't we keeping marijuana away from children by
controlling it as we control alcohol and tobacco? Why are we
encouraging gangs and crime by making marijuana so profitable? Why are
you ignoring how ineffectual the current policy is?

Anna, from Ottawa

Dear Anna: My government wants very much to keep marijuana out of the hands
of children.
You may know that I told reporters last year that we "have to do something
about the
drug crisis in this country" and that since the Liberals started talking about
decriminalizing marijuana "we have seen a rapid expansion of the drug
trade." Now I know
that people who conduct surveys will tell you that most forms of drug use
have actually
been declining, with the exception of cannabis, and that, in any event,
cannabis is a
much less dangerous drug than tobacco or alcohol. And I know, despite what
I said, that
there isn't any good evidence that ties expansion of the illicit trade in
cannabis to
Liberal pronouncements regarding the possibility of decriminalization.

But I do think that we're all entitled to our own opinions,
irrespective of credible science. Take Stockwell, for example. He
believes that the Earth was created by God in seven days. And if he
wants to believe that, we should all respect his right to do so.

Your second question about profitability misses the point that gangs
and crime would exist even if we took marijuana off the table. There
are plenty of other opportunities for organized criminal activity.
Yes, it's true that prohibition of cannabis can put profits in the
hands of young thugs but I'm quite sure that there are also plenty of
very decent people who are making money from the trade in cannabis.
Your third question regarding the "ineffectual" nature of current
policy unfortunately misses the mark again.

Our polling has told us that getting tough on people who cultivate
marijuana is winning us votes. And I don't think that policies that
win governments votes are ineffectual. Our policies play well with an
increasingly large population of poorly informed and somewhat fearful
Canadians. And like Stockwell, these folks have just as much right to
their opinions as you do.

Stephen Harper, your Prime Minister

Neil Boyd is professor and associate director of the School of
Criminology at Simon Fraser University.