MPS DRAGGING FEET ON POT LAW REFORM

Re: "It's dopey to encourage pot smoking," (May 12).

In a 2002 poll, 85 per cent of Canadians indicated that medical marijuana
should be available under specific conditions. Earlier this year, 50 per
cent of Canadians indicated they support decriminalization of marijuana. In
moving to decriminalize marijuana, the federal government is simply, and
reluctantly, following the will of the people.

In 2000, the Ontario Court of Appeals ruled that Canada's marijuana laws
are unconstitutional, and gave Ottawa one year to change the legislation.
Ottawa did no such thing.

Courts in Toronto and Windsor have determined that current medical
marijuana laws violate the constitution, and that current marijuana laws
are invalid, respectively. The Canadian Senate Special Committee on Illegal
Drugs recommended full legalization of marijuana in 2002. That report has
essentially been ignored by the federal government.

Prime Minister Jean Chretien's colleagues responding to binding court
decisions two years late hardly qualifies as "ramming ... legislation down
the throats of Canadians." Simply because the writer disapproves of
marijuana use, and finds it "socially offensive," does not give him the
right to unilaterally condemn the opinions of the majority of Canadians,
the recommendations of our Senate, and the rulings of many of our higher
courts.

Sam Mercer, Victoria.