THE FRAGRANT WINDS OF CHANGE

Man oh man, I need a drink. Something to make the world appear simpler. I
mean, look at California-would you prefer the Terminator or Larry Flynt?
Although I admit that Flynt's idea of legalizing slot machines to refill
California's empty coffers smacks of the deliciously profitable vice on
which the US was built.

Of course, one gal's vice is another's good time, right? And damned if
there's not someone out there who'll find everything offensive. This is
true especially in North American politics, where all you have to do is
bring up sex or mind-altering drugs-we won't even talk about sex while on
mind-altering drugs-and you've got the makings of a social debate.

If you haven't yet poked your head out from under McGill's cozy shelter, it
looks like we're going to decriminalize pot and recognize same-sex
marriage. Yay, sex and drugs! But I warn you: neither fight is through,
there are still some details that could get in the way.

For instance, some MPs are doing all they can to muster support against
recognizing same-sex marriages, and will continue to do so. The Alliance
recently introduced a bill that would reaffirm the traditional definition
of marriage. Though it was defeated, a free vote on the same matter earlier
last week lost by a mere five votes; 30 of those affirmatives were from
Liberals.

With leadership changing and the introduction of the legislation delayed
until early next year, pending review by the Supreme Court, the issue isn't
totally settled-The Globe and Mail on September 13 even featured a warning
from lobbyists that activists are becoming too complacent and jeopardizing
what's been accomplished. Fortunately, Prime Minister Jean Chretien, who,
according to those lovable ol' curmudgeons in Rome, may have sacrificed his
very soul for his citizens, currently backs the legislation. That's
devotion, people.

Personally, I don't know why anyone in their right mind would get married,
but then my mother keeps trying to set me up with guys in the supermarket
check-out line. Perhaps I'm too screwed up to judge. One note to the
Ontario government, though: you may want to amend your marriage licenses so
that they no longer read "bride and groom." My newly married uncles are
still trying to figure out who's who-it's hard to tell, since neither of
them has any hair.

And there are still problems with decriminalization, highlighted by the
fuss over the pot cafe being created in the Latin Quarter-or at least it
was still scheduled to open last time I checked. Police plan to arrest
anyone caught with pot inside the St-Denis establishment, and the landlord
is not too keen on housing such a project.

Reservations may have less to do with the sheer in-your-face illegality of
it. Montreal cops have been known to look away with some regularity, as
anyone who has spent a few blissful Sundays drumming in Parc Mont-Royal
knows. The real issue is the fact that the cafe could potentially induce
dealers to loiter around the area.

But even if pot is decriminalized, as it likely will be, what about the
dealers? Unless we simultaneously legalize mass production and
distribution, whether by private companies, licensed outlets, or the
government, organized crime will still thrive in the cities, leaving your
average urban pot-smoker, while protected under the law, still indirectly
funding career criminals and biker gangs. And the last thing I want, as
Miss Nine-Years-Vegetarian, is to contribute to the purchase of some guy's
metal-studded leather jacket. Boo.

I don't necessarily have the right answers to these problems, although I'm
an egotistical Leo so I'll pretend that I do. But I know that whatever the
answers are, the last thing anyone needs is some random detail that messes
up the whole process, like taking some politician's promises for granted or
failing to think through the basic economics of the drug trade. Heck, some
editor at the Progressive Conservative media office gets lazy and you end
up with an accusation that Dalton McGuinty is an "evil, reptilian
kitten-eater from another planet." Oy.

In any case, change is in the air and it smells grand, but I wouldn't
inhale quite yet.