MIXED MESSAGES ON THE POT ISSUE

Once again we are treated to the spectacle of Vancouver attempting to
lead the way in national drug policy, and once again it's a slapstick
comedy.

Soon after Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell sheepishly announced the
city's shoot-up site was a bigger "success" than expected (meaning
lots more junkies using this taxpayer-financed "service"), it was
"revealed" that there has been a plan all along to open a "safe"
crack-smoking room, which has already been built.

This aspect of the plan appears to have collapsed under the weight of
its own ridiculousness, but not to worry, it will be back eventually.

And then an Amsterdam-style pot retail shop called Da Kine is
"revealed" on Commercial Drive. I couldn't help noticing the way the
"news" coverage was handled. After a standard city media gang-tackle
in the first two weeks of September, the public was eventually told
that this high-volume trafficking operation has in fact been operating
all summer. Tourists knew, hundreds if not thousands of customers
knew, the neighbourhood certainly knew. But in a city with two
dailies, four TV stations and two news radio stations, the general
public didn't know until the store sent out a press release!

Once the city media were led by the hand to the story, the mayor found
out, and shrugged it off. Then the police admitted they had known for
some time. Then B.C.'s solicitor general felt moved to issue a
statement that the Narcotic Control Act is still in effect, even in
Vancouver, and that selling marijuana is in fact still illegal.

Then the store was busted.

Regular folks, especially those seeing this store operate unmolested
all summer, could be forgiven for concluding that marijuana had been
legalized. Some of the young people I've heard from seem convinced
it's legal now.

Why? Well, for one thing, the former Prime Minister said simple
possession would be decriminalized. That legislation, launched with
fanfare, was left like other bills to die on the order paper, leaving
the impression that the federal government was interested in a
short-term publicity hit, not actual governing.

What's a kid to make of a federal government like ours? The kid, or
for that matter adult, is likely to conclude that Canadian law is a
joke, and he or she would be right. If young people don't show
sufficient deference to police or teachers or others, perhaps it's
partly because these attitudes trickle down from the top. They may
conclude that only chumps drive the speed limit, or pay all their
taxes, or obey drug laws.

Like many Canadians, I support legalization of marijuana. Unlike more
dangerous narcotics, evidence suggests it is generally harmless if
used in moderation. As a practical matter, it's too easy to produce
locally to be successfully banned, wasting valuable police resources.

Now if we just had a federal government that would take action in a
serious, orderly way, and restore confidence in the law.

Tom Fletcher is editor of the Maple Ridge News.

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