PROPOSED POT LAW SHOULD BE KEPT IN CONTEXT

The decriminalization of simple pot possession shouldn't be taken as all
bad news to those opposed.

The federal government isn't going to legalize possession of pot. According
to a Canadian Press story, under legislation introduced by Justice Minister
Martin Cauchon, possession of up to 15 grams of pot -- enough to roll about
15 or 20 joints -- would be a minor offence that carries no criminal record.

Offenders would still face fines (from $100 to $250 for youths and $150 to
$400 for adults). The proposed law does not encourage people to light up in
public places, smoke a joint while driving or carry around home-rolled
smokes. It would still be illegal to possess it in any way (other than with
a medical exemption).

But more important, the people making big bucks off the stoners -- dealers
and growers -- still face the same penalties they faced prior to the
proposed legislation. It's not as simple as dealers carrying smaller
quantities of marijuana to avoid the penalty. Trafficking would remain a
criminal offence punishable with fines, jail or prison time. As does
growing the stuff.

These are the people police should be focusing their attention on anyway.
Stop the source and it cleans up the users.

This newspaper is in no way advocating the use of marijuana. However, a
person in possession of one cigarette should not be rotting in a jail cell
while the guy who sold it to him walks free. Our jails are so horribly
overcrowded already that, as has been known to happen, offenders who should
be doing jail time are often let out just days into a sentence because
there is no room for them.

We don't put people who are in possession of alcohol in a public place in
jail. We fine them.

The police aren't being asked to close their eyes to pot use. The courts
are being told to fine small-time users rather than jail them.

- --Times-Herald editorials are contributed by Lesley Sheppard, Dan
MacEachern and Joyce Walter.