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.