NEW POT LAW JUST BLOWING SMOKE

In 2003 Canadian actor, businessman and marijuana activist Tommy Chong was
arrested in a Drug Enforcement Agency sting known as Operation Pipe Dreams.
The American resident was arrested, convicted and sentenced to nine months
in a federal prison for owning a glass-blowing business that manufactured
and distributed glass water pipes on the Internet. Hundreds of other
American craftspeople were arrested in this operation, but because of his
notoriety and pro-pot persona, an example was made of him.

Meanwhile, in Canada we have moved a long way from the persecution of people
for using marijuana, with the proposal of a bill to decriminalize it. Or
have we? On Thursday, Aug. 19, Canadian marijuana, activist Marc Emery, was
sentenced to 90 days in jail for passing two joints in Saskatoon. Following
his arrest in March, Emery spent three nights in jail, was forced to pay
$3,500 bail and additional legal costs, as well as agree to stipulations
severely restricting his rights and freedoms -- all for passing two joints.

The "decriminalization" bill proposed by the federal Liberals would do
nothing to stop these kinds of trafficking charges being laid just for
passing a joint. The original decriminalization bill was introduced with the
idea of updating our laws to meet the reality of everyday life.

People from all walks of life use marijuana who would never be considered
criminal by any other means. The decriminalization bill actually increases
penalties for all aspects of marijuana use except simple possession of under
15 grams. This exact same sentence could still have been given out under the
Liberal's proposed "decriminalization" bill. This allows the Crown and its
agents to do end-runs around the spirit of the law and impose hefty jail
terms for trafficking if you pass a joint. This could happen to anyone who
uses marijuana. This happens to Canadians all the time, and Emery's case is
just one example of how Canada's marijuana laws punish harmless, decent
people.

DARREN SOMERSALL, Winnipeg