TOKE-N APPROVAL

Prime Minister Paul Martin's stance that he will go ahead with the
decriminalization of marijuana use no matter what the U.S. says is wrong.

And here, we will not even get into the debate as to whether personal
possession of small amounts of marijuana should be seen as a misdemeanor,
rather than a criminal offence.

It's Martin's attitude that is wrong.

Why upset Washington yet one more time?

Why not try to rebuild the bridges to the U.S. that Martin's predecessor so
successfully destroyed?

Why not show we are now once again America's closest ally?

The U.S. administration is adamant about fighting the use of illegal drugs.
President George W. Bush's cabinet believes drug use destroys health and
fuels crime. It also contends drug cartels bankroll terrorism.

To a degree, the Bush administration is right on all three counts.

Let's all admit to that.

Yet, whether or not youngsters who experiment because of peer pressure --
or 'sophisticated' upscale types who smoke a weekend joint -- should be
prosecuted for a criminal offence is not the basis of our argument. This
weekend even former vice-president Al Gore's son was charged with marijuana
possession.

Our argument is again, that at every touch and turn, we seem to be trying
to infuriate our closest neighour.

We've abrogated our military commitments and abandoned the U.S. in its
fight to liberate Iraq. Indeed, Jean Chretien just about said the U.S. got
what it deserved with the terrorist attacks on New York City. In the midst
of this, we have trade battles with the U.S. on softwood lumber and beef
exports, as well as other issues.

Since more than 80% of our exports and 50% of our jobs directly or
indirectly depend on our export to the U.S. -- which basically means our
nation's economy would collapse with the loss of those exports and jobs --
shouldn't we try to shore up our relationship rather than antagonize
Washington and allow our relationship to drift apart?

Well, the answer is obvious.

Obvious, apparently, to everyone except a newly installed and
stubborn-headed prime minister.