NEW POT PLAN JUST TOKEN EFFORT

If you're confused about the federal government's policy on marijuana,
you're not alone.

By the end of the month, it's expected that legislation will be tabled in
the House of Commons decriminalizing possession of 15 grams or less of pot.

According to reports, in the future, those caught with the offending amount
will be ticketed and fined, but will be exempt from the stigma of a
criminal record.

This comes on the heels of a string of court decisions in Ontario that
invalidated laws that make it illegal to possess small amounts of marijuana.

There is also ample evidence that a majority of Canadians favour
decriminalization.

Such a bold move has raised concerns from our neighbours down south, who
fear lax laws here will put undue pressure on our shared border and on U.S.
customs agents. This despite the fact 12 states have already decriminalized
possession of small amounts of pot.

Police chiefs in many provinces are also worried the message this loosening
of drug laws will send as they combat an increasingly violent war against
marijuana grow operations.

Anticipating such a backlash, Ottawa's decriminalization plan also features
tougher measures to target illegal grow-ops, including the doubling of
penalties for drug trafficking.

As well, the proposals include a new strategy designed by Health Canada to
discourage drug use.

Although this piece of legislation appears progressive, it still does
nothing to help people with MS, glaucoma, hepatitis or AIDS who need
marijuana to deal with their everyday pain.

While Ottawa tells them they can legally have their pot, it won't supply
the drug for them, making it necessary for them to buy it on the streets at
greatly inflated prices, which will only increase as more grow-ops are shut
down.

Because the federal government is adverse to legalizing pot -- largely out
of fear of a backlash from the U.S. -- it's introducing half measures it
hopes will stave off further court challenges that could force Ottawa's hand.

But how bad could outright legalization be?

In Holland, when pot was legalized, the use of it among teenagers as well
as the general population decreased dramatically. Recent studies have
proven that pot is not the gateway drug it was previously thought to be.

And the possibilities for new revenue streams should make legalization an
attractive option for cash-strapped governments faced with ailing
health-care and education systems.

But it seems our federal government has given little thought to these
issues as it hastily slapped together a plan with an eye to pleasing everyone.

Instead, this half-baked plan will do little to help people who need pot
and undermine efforts to stop the booming illegal trade in marijuana.