CANADA MUST NOT DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA

Decriminalizing Marijuana: European Experience Bad?

Re. Feb. 24 editorial headlined Reform regressive laws on marijuana possession:

If we look to learn from countries that have already decriminalized
marijuana, we see Canada will be making a huge mistake if it proceeds with
this.

In the 1960s Sweden relaxed their drug polices but found that drug abuse is
dependent on supply and demand. If drugs are readily available and society
takes a permissive attitude, the number of people using drugs will
increase. If, on the other hand, drugs are very difficult to come by and
there is a danger of being arrested (and punished), the number drops.

Ask any concerned parent of a marijuana-using teen if he/she would wish the
mood swings, violence, paranoia, etc. their teen suffers from on another
family. The answer would be a clear and resounding no!

In 1975, Alaska decriminalized adult marijuana possession. However, use
among teens increased to double the national average. Fifteen years later,
liberal Alaska voted to recriminalize marijuana. The increased use was too
high a price for decriminalization.

Ask any concerned parent of a drug-abusing teen if they would wish seeing
their child's hopes and dreams disappear before their eyes on another
family, and the answer would be a clear and resounding no!

By 1979, 11 U.S. states were considering decriminalizing marijuana while 51
per cent of 12th graders were using pot. By implementing tougher laws and
increasing attention to drug abuse, drug was reduced to 22 per cent.

And then there is the Netherlands. There, teen drug use doubled between
1984 and 1988, then doubled again between 1988 and 1992. The crime rate was
also greatly affected.

Shootings increased 40 per cent, holdups increased 60 per cent and the
murder rate was three times that in the U.S. Also, there was an increase in
the tolerance, sale and use of heroin and cocaine.

Now, in the 21st century, we are dealing with marijuana that is five times
stronger than what these statistics are based on. Is this the path we want
Canadians to travel?

Tougher laws, education and more support for those already dependent on
marijuana are what are needed.

In its attempt at reducing the strain on our court system, our federal
government is being very short-sighted. In the long term, it is increasing
the burden on our courts and penal systems, and health care, but most
importantly our Canadian families.

Audrey Russell

Ponoka