POT RULING BASHED

It won't be a green Christmas for area pot smokers.

The Supreme Court of Canada ruled 6-3 yesterday that the law against
possession of small amounts of marijuana is not unconstitutional and
will remain in place.

The decision places the onus on the federal government to decide
whether the drug will be decriminalized or if any other aspect of the
pot law should be changed.

"The Supreme Court ruled in a manner one should anticipate in that
they upheld the existing law," said Liberal MP Aileen Carroll.

Prime Minister Paul Martin has made clear his position to support
decriminalization for very small amounts of marijuana.

"There is considerable support in the change in law," said
Carroll.

Denessa Cameron is one of those supporters.

The Georgian College student said yesterday she was extremely
disappointed by the court's decision.

"I was hoping they wouldn't legalize it, but decriminalize it," said
Cameron who describes herself as an occasional pot smoker.

"This kind of ticks me off," said Cameron.

Cameron said she believes the decision to be hypocritical, considering
that alcohol and cigarettes can have equally, if not more, dire
consequences.

Ron McInnes, a marijuana activist in Orillia, said he was not
surprised by the court's decision and added that marijuana should be
legalized rather than decriminalized.

"Most activists want it legalized but we want rules too," he
said.

McInnes would support the implementation of a marijuana control board
that would make trafficking and underage use illegal.

He believes the government and courts have been influenced by big
business when it comes to marijuana laws.

"Tobacco, liquor and pharmaceutical companies would lose money (if
marijuana was legalized)," he said. "They should ask the people what
they want."

An Ipsos Reid poll conducted in May of 1,001 Canadians suggested that
55 per cent of respondents did not believe smoking marijuana should be
a criminal offence.

The decriminalization of marijuana would still make the product
illegal and anyone found with the drug would be fined.

However, offenders would not receive a criminal charge. Minors would
have their parents notified.

Under that law, consequences for growers and sellers would be
increased.

Carroll said that decriminalization would allow authorities to come
down harder on criminals growing and trafficking the drug.

The Prime Minister has not announced when the House will resume so it
is unknown when any potential changes to the marijuana legislation
would take place.

Last year, following months of hearings and reviews, the Canadian
Senate Select Committee on Illicit Drugs called for the legalization
of marijuana, while a House of Commons select committee recommended
decriminalization.

At the time, Chretien introduced a decriminalization bill. It died
before being acted upon when Chretien adjourned parliament last month.