DECRIMINALIZING MARIJUANA

The move to pass a bill that will decriminalize possession of small amounts
of marijuana is currently in deliberation, and Prime Minister Jean Chretien
wants a decision before the parliament rises for the summer, said MP Philip
Mayfield.

Mayfield says the legislation schedule goes up to June 20, but nobody knows
for sure the decision will be concrete at this time.

"I have a little difficulty understanding why we are trying to open up the
ability for people to smoke marijuana freely when we are trying to
encourage people to quit smoking," Mayfield said, noting all the tars and
chemicals present in both cigarettes and pot. "We are really encouraging
people to harm themselves."

Mayfield said during his time working in a young offenders unit, he
observed marijuana to be the first step on a path leading to serious drug use.

"We were convinced then that marijuana was the gateway to further
experimentation and use of drugs, and I'm still convinced of that," he
said. "Because it's readily available, and it's so much more potent now."

Mayfield said though he has no firsthand experience with the product, "I
understand that B.C. bud is very potent."

The MP said the debate over decriminalization brings about an interesting
paradox within legislature.

While possession of 15 grams or less of marijuana, or one gram of resin
(hashish), would be penalized only by a ticket, punishment for growing and
selling would become stiffer, Mayfield said. According to the CBC Web site,
the new Contraventions Act would slap a $1,000 fine or even six months in
prison for a summary conviction of holding over 15 grams. The officer would
have the choice, however, to just dole out a ticket .

Being caught with 15 grams will potentially cost an adult $150 and a youth
$100. For resin the ticket is more expensive. It is slated to be $300 for
an adult and $200 for youth. Parents or guardians of a fined junior would
be notified.

"It's legal to have it, but not to grow it or sell it," Mayfield said of
the likely to be passed law. "It's a confusing message that the government
is giving Canadians."

The Canadian Medical Association has estimated that 1.5 million Canadians
smoke pot recreationally, and that approximately 600,000 Canadians have
criminal records for possession of marijuana.

Cannabis has become a popular means of pain relief for those suffering from
severe illnesses such as muscular sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and cancer.
Pot can inspire an appetite in those that have lost one through
chemotherapy or other harsh medications.

Cannabis has been banned as an illegal substance since 1923, in the Opium
and Drug Act. The act states cannabis has been linked to respiratory damage
and impairment of physical coordination, and thus should remain illegal.

However, alcohol, not banned under any act, has been linked to liver damage
and impairment of physical coordination as well. According to the B.C.
Ministry of Education, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a "lifelong neurological
disability." The first case of FAS diagnosed in Canada was determined in
B.C. in the 1970s.

There are no statistics for FAS in Canada, partly because it can be a
hidden disease and because the amount of alcohol ingested during the
pregnancy that will harmfully affect the fetus cannot be determined. It's
different with everyone, and could only take one drink. FAS is classified
as a chronic disability by Statistics Canada, yet no warning labels appear
on bottles of beer, wine or spirits.

Other countries have abolished marijuana possession as a crime without
tumultuous results. In Spain, Italy, Portugal, Luxembourg and Belgium
possession is not a crime. It has been decriminalized in Germany, the
Netherlands, Switzerland and Denmark. South Australia has similar means of
policing pot as the Canadian government is proposing, except there you can
carry up to 100 grams with no charge, and they say they have found no
difference in the amounts of people smoking. The U.K. is also proposing a
similar act that is due to be passed in July of this year.

Mayfield seemed to agree the numbers of pot smokers wouldn't change due to
the proposed amendment.

"People pay so little regard to the law as it is," he said. His issue is
the hypocritical stance the government is taking.

"I think the law itself should make sense, don't you?" he posed. "At least
be consistent."