NOT ABOVE THE LAW

"Everybody does it" is hardly a justification many parents accept.

It does, however, appear to be a solid portion of why the Liberal
government is drafting legislation that will decriminalize the possession
of small amounts of marijuana.

There's some validity to its view. Clogging the courts and demanding police
time to enforce a law the population doesn't stand behind is an expensive
waste of time.

People only obey laws they believe to be just. If public opinion has indeed
swung far enough around that outlawing marijuana appears unjust to the
majority, it's time the legislation was changed.

Though the bill is still a work in progress, a draft version would see a
small fine ($100) levied for those found carrying less than 15 grams of
marijuana, or enough for about 25 joints. Adults would receive more severe
fines than youths caught with the substance. And heavier sentencing and
enforcement would be re-routed to growers and distributors of the drug.

The bill also aims to rid youths of criminal records for what many see as a
routine rite of passage.

This goes along with the social philosophy of the new Youth Criminal
Justice Act, which also aims to ensure young people don't pay with jail
time or other unpleasantness for youthful indiscretions that happen to run
afoul of the law.

It's true that a criminal record is an albatross around the neck of young
people who've changed their ways and are trying to make a productive life
for themselves. But it's equally true that young people bear some
responsibility for staying on the right side of the law.

Meting out a stricter punishment for adults than youths for marijuana
possession is teaching all the wrong lessons. Young people mustn't feel
they're above the law. They mustn't feel their youth will protect them if
they willfully choose to break the laws of the land.

Coming down hard on growers to squeeze out the source is a good start if
the will to keep pot illegal is still in place.

But we do the younger generation and society as a whole no favours if we
fail to teach them that rules matter and their youth is no excuse for
breaking the law.