DECRIMINALIZATION A GUTLESS WAY TO DEAL WITH MARIJUANA USE

Smoking marijuana is a common habit in Canada.

Just how common is it? Well, it's common enough that only the most innocent
and sheltered Canadians would not be able to identify the smell of the
smoke. It's common enough that most Canadians realize that growing it is
one of B.C.'s major industries, right up there with forestry and tourism.
And it's common enough that with a few well-aimed queries, a stranger could
wander into virtually any town in Canada and buy some.

Most significantly, it's common enough that plenty of our most intelligent,
responsible, productive members of society smoke it, and I'm not just
talking about college professors and artists. Lawyers smoke it, school
teachers smoke it, doctors smoke it and architects smoke it. Not all of
them smoke it, but if you think that none of them do, then you're either
blissfully naive or the pot-smokers you know, like and respect are suitably
subtle about their past-time.

The federal government is on the verge of passing legislation that would
decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana. In the near future,
those caught with 15 grams or less of weed could receive a penalty similar
to a speeding ticket. Possession in small amounts would no longer be a
Criminal Code offence.

Decriminalization is a sign that the Canadian government concedes, in a
sort of underhanded way, that marijuana does less damage to our society
than alcohol, that yes, there's plenty of folks out there who lead a
perfectly honourable, law-abiding life except for those couple of times a
year when they step outside at a summer barbecue and relax with a joint.
The government's logic seems to be, 'Why should these peoples' jobs and
reputations be at risk because of a light indulgence? They shouldn't, so
let's cut them a break on possession.'

Yet, the government is too afraid to go all the way with legalization
because of the heat it would take from those, including a certain world
power that is our closest neighbour, who are against that. So,
decriminalization allows the government to sit on the fence, appeasing both
sides somewhat but avoiding a clear stance on the issue.

To me, that's worse than legalizing it or leaving the rules as they are.
Decriminalization would shift marijuana use to a twilight zone that makes
it sort of okay by the law sometimes, and substantially not okay the rest
of the time.

How much sense does it make that illegal activity could somehow translate
to something legal? It's like saying that two wrongs make a right. The
truth of the matter is, no one would be able to obtain 15 grams or less of
marijuana without getting it, either directly or indirectly, from someone
who had more than 15 grams - probably much more.

Decriminalization is the government's way out of either attacking
marijuana's widespread presence in our country head-on or allowing its
presence to emerge from the underground into daylight.

The federal government should study marijuana closely and then, after
forming an educated judgment, choose what it deems as the best path. It
should be able to answer yes or no to these questions:

Is marijuana too much a health risk, too much of a detriment to our society
to allow its legalization?

Or, can people be trusted to make the decision of whether or not to smoke
marijuana on their own, without legal influence? Is it a substance that can
be used responsibly in moderation, that could raise handsome revenue for
the government in the form of sales taxes because so many people have such
affection for it?

The government should decide either way, because decriminalization is a
coward's way to deal with the problem.