DECRIMINALIZING POT WILL LET CAMEL'S HEAD INTO TENT

There's an old mid-Eastern saying: Don't let the camel put his head inside
the tent, or soon the whole camel will be inside.

On Sunday shopping, church-goers said, never. Then it was okay for shops in
tourist areas to do business on Sundays. The camel's head was in the tent.
Now the tent is full; the whole camel is in; one can shop any day of the
week almost any hour of the day.

Before the Second World War, trucking companies lobbied to use trailers
behind regular trucks. Soon, the trailer issue was settled; small trailers
at first, then larger trailers were allowed on public highways six days a
week. More pressure by the trucking companies gave them the right to drive
refrigerated trucks and trailers on Sundays. Now the whole rig -- truck,
tractors and trailer -- is in the tent.

Now that tobacco smokers are being weaned from their habit due to
government-sponsored health warnings and rapidly escalating costs for the
products, do we really want to encourage our youth to "light up" with cannabis?

Decriminalizing marijuana will be the camel's head in the tent. Easier
access will create more users, likely at an earlier age. Many young people,
succumbing to the siren's song, might move on to the use of illegal drugs
when they find the "buzz" from smoking pot wears off.

Or will this act of decriminalization lead to lifting restrictions on some
of the presently illegal drugs? Will the camel ask to have his back
quarters and tail in the tent, too?

Establishing an upper limit on what constitutes an acceptable amount of
marijuana will not discourage the determined user.

Establishing a law that appears to be unenforceable makes no sense.

Highway signs indicate the speed limit on highways is 100 km-h and, in
town, 60 km-h. Who pays attention? If all speeders were apprehended, our
jails would be full.

Seat-belts are a true life-saving device but only when used. Roadside
checks continue to show unbelievably high numbers of drivers fail to
protect themselves by buckling up.

Laws that are unenforceable make a mockery of well-thought-out charges and
penalties.

Does it make any sense to make it easier for more boys and girls, men and
women to jeopardize their health and future when the risk is so great?

BILL SCOTT

THORNHILL