NEW POT LAWS WILL PUT MORE PEOPLE IN JAIL

With regard to the decriminalization of possession of a small amount of
marijuana, two observations must be made.

The first is one that Solicitor General Rich Coleman approached in his
press comments, but did not quite reach: That de-criminalization may result
in putting more people in jail.

That happened in California and other states in the U.S. that have
decriminalization. While previously police used discretion and often just
issued a formal caution, now, in California, almost all cases result in
fines being imposed.

But a very large percentage of these fines are not getting paid, eventually
resulting in larger numbers of people being taken into custody for
non-payment of fines than previously for possession.

The second observation that needs to be made is that imposition of fines
will make it much easier for well-off persons and their children to smoke
marijuana than for the poor and down-and-out. Not very democratic or social.

Axel Brock-Miller, Langford.