NEW DRUG BILL A COMPROMISE

Legislation introduced by Ottawa on Tuesday to soften the laws for minor
possession of marijuana has the appearance of having been cobbled together
by a committee.

The legislation, which would take possession of about 15 grams of marijuana
(enough for about a dozen cigarettes) out of the Criminal Code, at first
glance looks like a much lighter stance on what is usually referred to as
soft drug use. A closer look, however, shows the heavy hand of punishment
follows quickly for sellers and growers of the popular drug.

The bill takes the view that it is no more serious to have a small amount
of marijuana in one's pocket than to speed or run a red light (fines will
be roughly equivalent). Fair enough, many Canadians have long believed this
and felt it is quite pointless to jail people for a habit generally viewed
as far less destructive than alcohol consumption. But behind this new
approach lies the heavy hand of retribution for anyone possessing
considerably more than a few grams (presumably the sellers) and those who
grow the plants at home or increasingly in specially-constructed indoor
plots. The proposed law would, for example, take a completely different
view toward the many large marijuana grow operations police have busted
here in the Southeast over the past years.

In future, such operators could be hit with huge fines compared to the few
thousands they now face.

The government is clearly saying that casual use of marijuana is not a
serious matterjust pay the fine and move onyet is coming down much harder
on the production and supply side of the business.

This tougher approach to all but minor possession seems to have been
strongly influenced by concerns from the U.S. government which continues to
take a hard line on all drug use and which was consulted by Ottawa before
the new legislation was introduced. The American fear is that any softer
approach in Canada will lead to greater exports of marijuana to the United
States. By significantly toughening penalties for sellers and growers of
marijuana, Canada may be trying to appease Washington's concerns and stave
off even more intensive border vigilance.

That may suit Ottawa's purposes at a time when relations between the
countries are already strained.

As it stands, the proposed legislation is riddled with contradictions,
especially since it would still leave the supply and retail end of the
marijuana business in criminal hands.

It is not what the federal government intended.

It may be all it can afford to push forward at the moment.