SMOKE RINGS

What are they smoking on Parliament Hill these days? It's a fair question
for Jean Chretien's Liberals, whose recent flip-flops on marijuana policy
could make anyone's head spin.

First there was the bizarre quip from the man himself, who mused that,
although he's never tried pot in his life, he might start once his
government decriminalizes it and he retires.

"Perhaps I will try it when it will no longer be criminal," he told
reporters. "I will have my money for my fine and a joint in the other hand."

Good grief.

This is the guy who has insisted he's not legalizing or encouraging pot use?

This is the guy who wants us, our kids and our cops to continue to treat
marijuana as a serious drug?

Leave it to Chretien to be out of step with the times -- again. Less than a
week after he pondered becoming a pothead, Ontario's highest court closed a
two-year-old legal loophole and made marijuana possession illegal again.

That left Justice Minister Martin Cauchon scrambling, promising he'd
fast-track the decriminalization bill because it's something the Grits
consider "key to society." (Translation: Key to Chretien's legacy.)

It may be key, but so far their pot policy is as formless and changeable as
a cloud of smoke.

Remember when they first floated the idea of allowing possession of 30 grams?

That changed to 15, and as of last Friday, a special committee was looking
at reducing it even further.

It's also looking at tougher penalties for repeat offenders -- good moves,
in our books, but hardly consistent with the rest of their pot legislation.

And, of course, all of this meandering may come to nothing once Paul Martin
takes over.

Meanwhile, the most sensible developments on the pot file last week came
from outside Parliament.

First, the Ontario court scrapped silly restrictions for medical marijuana
users and simply ruled they are exempt from the law, period.

Second, Manitoba became the first province to allow police to take
drug-impaired drivers off the road -- the kind of law we think is essential
before any decriminalization is contemplated.

Alas, the feds are long past making any sense on pot. Just look at their
so-called leader.