Decriminalize Pot? Not!

Open Letter To Dave Gracey

Editor:

Marijuana should not be decriminalized in Canada.

In your Jan. 12 column, you made the broad assertion "most Canadians treat
marijuana like it's decriminalized and it isn't going to change." I disagree.

Regardless, the questions we should be asking are: will marijuana use
increase if we decriminalize it? What will the social costs be? I studied
criminology at University of Ottawa in 1987-88. It was taught and widely
accepted that marijuana consumption will increase if sanctions are removed.

You admit that by decriminalizing marijuana, the federal government is
condoning its use. In other words, if marijuana becomes decriminalized more
kids will become users than had we kept the status quo.

Furthermore, the kids who are users now will consume more of this hazardous
substance. This will lead to the use of harder drugs in certain individuals.

If Jeff Conners is correct, that marijuana is indeed toxic, then more
people will be hurt decriminalizing marijuana than if the system stays as
it is.

You are right when you say there are a lot of things readily available in
our society that can have a negative effect on our lives if they are used
often enough. So why would you want to have this effect increased?

You say cigarettes and liquor can have a devastating effect on a kid's
life. If cigarettes and alcohol can have a devastating effect on a kid's
life, what about adding high THC marijuana in the mix?

You say a possible upside of the decriminalization of marijuana would be
freeing up the clogged court system. There may be other ways to streamline
this system.

You point out that the draconian drug laws in the United States do not seem
to be effective in combating drug use or trafficking, yet punitive laws
exist in Norway which do appear to be effective. Apparently Norway has
strict marijuana laws and very little marijuana use. Why are sanctions
effective in Norway and not in the U.S.?

The federal government should not decriminalize marijuana. But this is not
the end; it is the beginning. The real question is why people (youth in
particular) use and abuse drugs recreationally for short-term pleasure when
the long-term consequences are so bad?

Rob Webster B.S.S-C.

Kamloops