INCREASE IN POT USE DEMANDS RESPONSE

Cannabis is becoming more and more a way of life for Canadians,
according to a report from Stats Canada released on Wednesday. And the
numbers indicate educators, law-makers and those setting public policy
need to pay close attention to the trend.

In 1989, 6.5 per cent of Canadians reported using pot and hashish.
That rose to 7.4 per cent in 1994. The 2002 figure reached 12.2 per
cent.

Predictably, pot and hash are most often used by young people. Almost
four out of every 10 teens aged 18 or 19 reported using marijuana or
hashish in the year studied. About three in 10 of those aged 15 to 17
reported cannabis use. Use among those in their early twenties was
also significant.

Over all, at least 41.3 per cent of the population aged 15 or older
have tried pot or hash.

It is clear the federal government will eventually have to deal once
and for all with the issue of legalization of marijuana.

But in the meantime, the rate of use should prompt a reality check in
terms of educating the public about the implications of its use.

With such a high -- no pun intended -- rate of use, some people do not
take the potential legal consequences seriously. It may seem like
everybody is doing it, but it's still illegal. Sentencing guidelines
for simple possession range from a fine of $1,000 to a jail sentence
of seven years.

While police are receiving some training in how to identify those who
are driving under the influence of cannabis, higher use of pot means
more effort and resources should go to addressing the problem.

According to the Canada Safety Council, using pot or hash diminishes
psychomotor skills and attention span while driving. It reduces the
ability to perform tracking tasks; at high doses, users drive less
accurately and show difficulty with steering. The combined use of
alcohol and pot can be especially dangerous for drivers.

There is no reliable system for detecting whether a driver has used
pot or hash, and no "safe" levels for use have been established. These
are necessary steps in light of increased use.

Public radio, television and print ads should explain the possible
health risks associated with using cannabis. The choice to use pot
should be an informed one.