LIBERALS HURTING OUR FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL DRUGS

Alarming Report On Teen Drug Use

Mayerthorpe Freelancer - Last week, Health Canada released an alarming
report on teen drug use. It showed that almost 85,000 Canadian teens
between the ages of twelve and nineteen smoke marijuana daily, and that in
2003 thirty-four percent of teens had tried marijuana more than once -- a
dramatic hike from 1993 levels of thirteen per cent.

Here in Yellowhead, we are witnessing first-hand the negative effects of
increased teen drug use in our schools and on our streets.

Drug users and the criminal element that closely follows are tarnishing
both our image as a safe place to raise families and the reputation of the
majority of youth who have responsibly stayed away from drugs.

It is not that we are doing nothing. Our communities have been proactive in
holding meetings where parents, citizens, youth and police have come
together to discuss the challenges and steps necessary to drive drugs out
of Yellowhead.

I attended one of these meetings and was pleased to see everyone united in
ridding our community of drugs.

While Yellowhead battles this problem, the federal Liberals have decided to
take an increasingly soft stand on drug use. The Liberals incoherent
response to drug us in Canada has left youth with the impression that drug
use, particularly pot smoking, is now acceptable. This is especially
troubling in Yellowhead where drug dealers have begun to lace marijuana
with the highly addictive and dangerous drug methamphetamine, more commonly
know as crystal meth. Now is the time to take a tough stand against illegal
drugs.

We can all agree that the current system in place to deal with marijuana
producers and users does not work. The courts are unable, and in many
circumstances unwilling, to deal with marijuana possession cases. If the
courts are not going to do it then we must give police the necessary tools
to effectively deal with marijuana at street level.

These tools should include giving police the ability to issue substantial
fines on the spot for anyone caught with very small quantities of marijuana.

This change must be in conjunction with severe penalties for repeat
offenders as well as for those who produce and sell drugs on our streets.
We must send the message that drug use, no matter how minor, does have
immediate consequences.

The federal Liberals solution is to issue small fines to those caught with
up to fifty marijuana cigarettes.

This is a ridiculous limit that sends the message to Canadian youth that
marijuana is not that bad. And despite the efforts of our community to rid
our streets and schools of drugs, the Liberals brand of justice includes a
youth discount for marijuana possession, even though it is the same
offence. I am disappointed that the Liberals have given up on fighting drug
use in Canada. Policies like open-ended marijuana decriminalization only
seek to make drug use socially acceptable.

Stronger legislation, harsher penalties and increased education and
available resources to communities and police are the direction we should
be moving.

I believe that we must get tough on all drugs and am pleased to see that
Yellowhead agrees.

I will take that message to Ottawa and am currently in the process of
drafting a Private Members Bill to help with our community's efforts.
Please feel free to contact me with your thoughts or suggestions at
1-800-268-7117 or at www.merrifieldmp.com.