LEGALIZATION ADVOCATES UNDAUNTED

A Supreme Court of Canada ruling against cannabis possession will do little
to erode grassroots support for legalizing pot, say pro-marijuana advocates.

The court ruled yesterday that Canadians have no free-standing right to use
marijuana, upholding a federal law banning possession of small amounts of
cannabis in a 6-3 ruling.

"It's not the end of the debate, not by any means," said Eugene Oscapella,
of the Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy.

"The whole issue about whether it's appropriate for Parliament to
criminalize this is a different issue from the constitutionality of it."

Oscapella said Canadians are deeply divided about legalizing pot, and the
court's decision doesn't affect how Parliament should treat the drug.

"One way to look at this is, does the Constitution prevent Parliament from
doing things that are patently stupid?" he said. "Probably not, in this case."

The ban doesn't violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the court said.
The law prohibiting possession for trafficking was also unanimously upheld.

Other constitutional challenges are still possible, Oscapella said.

Alberta Justice spokesman Jason Chance said the province is pleased with
the court's decision.

"It's a validation of our position that marijuana is a serious health and
social issue," he said.

There's a great deal of public support for looser marijuana laws, said
51-year-old Nola Koehler.

Before she took a job managing a Two Guys With Pipes store in the city,
Koehler said she was opposed to pot use in principle.

"(Since then) I've seen too many people using marijuana for medical use,
and I think alcohol is far worse," she said. "There's far worse things in
society."

The court's ruling won't change the way a lot of people look at marijuana
use, she said.

"I think there's definitely public support, I mean, I don't think it's
going to be a dead issue."

Decriminalization leaves kids with a mixed message about marijuana, said
Marilyn Mitchell, a youth services manager with the Alberta Alcohol and
Drug Abuse Commission.

AADAC has always opposed decriminalization, she said.