EXPERTS CLASH ON IMPACT OF NEW POT LAW ON YOUTH; SMOKERS TAKE NEWS IN STRIDE

TORONTO (CP) - As the grownups bickered about the consequences, Ottawa
started making good Tuesday on its promise to ease the criminal
repercussions of possessing marijuana - and the kids took it all in stride.

Young people across Canada celebrated the move as medical experts and
academics clashed over whether decriminalization would light a fire
underneath adolescent consumption rates.

"It probably will encourage it, but from what I've seen most people do it
anyway," said James Copley, a 19-year-old college student who lives in the
Montreal area.

"I really don't think people deserve a criminal record for smoking a gram
of pot one evening."

Paul Whitehead, a professor of sociology at the University of Western
Ontario in London, Ont., disagreed vehemently.

"It isn't possible in our society to increase the availability or the
acceptability of marijuana for normal, healthy adults without increasing
its acceptability and availability for children and adolescents," Whitehead
said.

"The consequence will be that we will have more frequent use among children
and adolescents and more kids getting into trouble as a result."

On the other side of the fence were those who believe pot laws in Canada
have never much discouraged the use of marijuana and aren't likely to have
much of an impact when they're removed.

"Cannabis consumption is already fairly prevalent amongst Canadian young
people," said David Marsh, clinical director of addiction medicine at the
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto.

"We don't think the current legislative framework works as an effective
deterrent for young people using cannabis."

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 punishable by a fine. Youths could face fines of up to $250
for minor possession while adults could be fined $400.

The addiction centre's study of Ontario adolescents found that 29.8 per
cent of respondents in 2001 reported consuming pot during the past year,
compared with a scant 12.7 per cent in 1993.

Pot even outpaced tobacco, which was used by just 23.6 per cent of the
respondents, who were from Grades 7 to 12. More boys than girls - 33.7 per
cent versus 26 per cent - reported using pot in the last year.

In 2001, respondents who reported selling cannabis set an all-time high of
8.3 per cent, compared with just three per cent in 1991.

Still, there's plenty of room for consumption to grow, Whitehead said.

"Years of surveys have indicated that when you ask people, 'Why don't you
use marijuana,' the first reason usually given is that it is unlawful."

The message from Canada's youth? Mellow out, man.

"Smoking pot is good," said 15-year-old Selia, a Montreal high school
student who said she's has been using marijuana for nearly three years.

Selia and her schoolmate Tesy - they refused to give their last names -
both said their biggest concern about decriminalization is that it could
lead to higher prices and poorer quality pot.

"Of course there are consequences (from pot), but as long as you don't
abuse it, you're OK."

In Vancouver, widely acknowledged as Canada's cannabis capital, the smell
of weed on the street is as familiar as the aroma of hot dogs cooking on a
street vendor's grill.

For that city's pot-smoking denizens, the move to decriminalize was really
more symbolic than anything else.

"There are always cops who are going to want to bust you, but I've never
had a problem," said Alan, 19.

"Maybe I was scared about getting caught in Grade 9, but generally I've
always found it to be a laid-back atmosphere."

Dave, meanwhile, celebrated his 20th birthday by flaring up a joint on the
steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery.

"People think it's like crack or heroin and it's not," he said. "Smoking
pot helps people like my mother, who has cancer, with chemotherapy; it
helps with the pain, and now she won't have to worry about getting a
criminal record for it."

In Toronto, Robin Ellins, the proprietor of "cannabis culture" shop The
Friendly Stranger, said it's high time Ottawa began distinguishing between
marijuana and harder, more dangerous narcotics.

"The biggest thing we can do at this stage, something that should have been
done all along, is inform and educate our youth about all substances,"
Ellins said.

Suggesting pot is as dangerous as cocaine and heroin has a tendency to
backfire he added.

"Under the old system, somebody was told cocaine and heroin are evil,
deadly substances and so is pot," he said.

"They try pot at a party and they're like, 'Wow, this isn't so bad; what
are they talking about? Maybe cocaine isn't so bad either.' I think this is
actually going to help when it comes to the education and awareness side
level the playing field a bit."