GONE TO POT

Thank heavens nobody takes our sideshow of a prime minister seriously anymore.

Jean Chretien's irrelevancy will hopefully help to diffuse any damage his
recent comments about smoking pot will cause to our youth, to the valid
argument behind decriminalizing pot and to our relations with our largest
trading partner, the United States.

During his last scheduled visit to Manitoba as prime minister, Chretien was
asked how he felt to have bills to decriminalize marijuana and legalize
same-sex marriages as the "exclamation points" to his political career.

He started out quite well actually. "The decriminalization of marijuana is
making normal what is the practice," said Chretien during an interview with a
Winnipeg paper that was published yesterday.

"It is still illegal, but do you think Canadians want their kids, 18 years old
or 17, who smoke marijuana once and get caught by the police, to have a
criminal record for the rest of their life?"

It's a good question. We think not.

"So let's make the law adjust to the realities," Chretien added. "It is still
illegal, but they will pay a fine."

After making those surprisingly lucid comments, however, Chretien mused: "I
don't know what is marijuana. Perhaps I will try it when it will no longer be
criminal. I will have my money for my fine and a joint in the other hand."

What, pray tell, is the man on? It's not marijuana clearly, but you really have
to wonder.

Opponents of decriminalization have always argued that easing up on pot
enforcement would cause every idiot in the country to smoke a joint.

Well, now they will claim they are right.

After all, when a 69-year-old prime minister publically contemplates puffing
some pot, it sends a signal to young kids who otherwise might never have tried
it that it is perfectly legal and socially acceptable.

The Liberals have claimed that was never the intent of the changes in the
marijuana laws.

But given Chretien's confusing comment, we really have to wonder.

Or was it yet another failed attempt by our PM to make a little joke.

Either way, the comment was completely inappropriate.