USE MONEY FOR DRUG EDUCATION

It appears that many are highly unimpressed with our prime minister's
decision to decriminalize marijuana use in Canada. For all intents and
purposes (a non-user and non-condoner myself), I can empathize with
people's disapproval. However, I don't necessarily see this decision as an
entirely bad one. The fact of the matter is that personal possession of
marijuana for individual consumption is still illegal for everyone, and
those who disobey the law will be punished accordingly. This message
remains unchanged.

I don't see it as inevitable that decriminalization will result in an
increase in young people (or others) choosing to use. There are likely many
reasons why people use marijuana -- desire to and availability no doubt
among these. So, in addition to decriminalizing marijuana possession for
personal use, the Liberals want to redirect resources (i.e. taxpayers'
dollars) toward developing preventive programs aimed at youth, and to
punish the dealers and traffickers with harsher sentences. I may be
completely off in my assessment of what the changes in law amount to, but I
feel that the implementation of prevention drug programs and the
utilization of police and Crown resources for the aforesaid goals will do
much more to address the issue of illicit marijuana use than targeting
adult recreational users for expensive and unnecessary criminal court
processing -- a huge waste of time and resources.

J. ANN ROSS

Winnipeg