TOUGH LAW 'WILL FORCE POT PRICE UP'

Marijuana Decriminalization

Legislation expected this week to decriminalize simple possession of pot
will drive up prices and attract hardcore criminal elements to the trade,
say marijuana advocates.

Recent media reports say the federal government will introduce legislation
by the end of the week aimed at making possession of less that 15 grams of
pot a ticketing offence.

Federal sources said the new law would simultaneously crack down on the
trafficking and production of marijuana.

Because pot is so cheap to produce, price is determined by the amount of
risk involved in selling it, said Munir Ahmad of the Edmonton Compassion
Network, a group that distributes marijuana to people who have licences to
use it.

"Right now, getting high is definitely a lot cheaper than doing a lot of
other things, like going to the (West Edmonton Mall) waterpark, or a movie
for that matter," he said.

Munir said prices actually rose after pot was decriminalized in Amsterdam.
Tougher penalties for dealers will push prices up here as serious jail time
becomes a reality, he said.

"If the government is really serious about increasing penalties against
people who are trafficking, they're contradicting themselves. Why would
they allow consumption, but punish providers more seriously?"

B.C. Marijuana Party president Marc Emery called decriminalization a "fraud."

"No one caught with under 15 grams is really suffering criminal sanctions
anyway," he said.

Tough laws will force street prices up, which will increase market
competition and attract a more ruthless and violent breed of criminal,
Emery said.

"So really, the situation has been made worse."

Edmonton police Sgt. Glen Hayden, vice-president of the Alberta Federation
of Police Associations, said cops need a clearer message from the federal
government.

"This is a blindside, coming right out of the blue," Hayden said yesterday
after hearing reports about the law.

"The government committed itself to putting the cart ahead of the horse. At
least that's our position."

Only the timing of the proposed legislation is new here. Federal Justice
Minister Martin Cauchon floated the decriminalization idea months ago.
Then, retiring Prime Minister Jean Chretien announced in late April he
would decriminalize pot before leaving office.

Reports suggest the federal government backed away from an initial plan to
decriminalize possession of less than 30 grams, to avoid a diplomatic
backlash from the U.S.

Federal Health Minister Anne McLellan stressed yesterday in Edmonton that
decriminalizing will come part and parcel with a new national drug strategy.

"My line is very clear as minister of health," said McLellan. "It's around
information, education, treatment, support for people, making sure we're
not sending messages to young people that smoking marijuana is OK, because
it isn't.

"We're sending the message that this is not a good thing. We are not
legalizing it."