COLEMAN OFF BASE WITH "WAR ON MARIJUANA"

Defence Minister John McCallum gives up drinking after Air Canada
staff decide he's too drunk to board a flight.

Alberta Premier Ralph Klein cuts down after a nasty scene at a
homeless shelter, where he argues abusively with residents, throws a
handful of bills on the floor and stomps off.

And Ontario Premier Ernie Eves promises to crack down on MLAs drinking
on the job after an evening sitting degenerates into vicious, drunken
abuse. Drinking on the job has been a constant problem over at least
two decades, he admits.

And we're worried about marijuana?

Solicitor General Rich Coleman has weighed in with his views on
decriminalizing marijuana, a step backed by federal Justice Minister
Martin Cauchon.

A huge mistake, Mr. Coleman says. "I want us to go out and fight the
war on drugs because it's hurting our kids, it's hurting our
communities and it's time we stood up to it," he said. "We need to
come to grips with the fact that this is a serious problem in our
country, that we have to get tougher with regard to the penalties."

It's the kind of position that shreds a politician's credibility.
First, it's impossible to make a credible claim that marjuana use
should be treated as a high priority public menace. Alcohol was
directly blamed for about 300 deaths in B.C. last year; hard
drugs----and prescription drugs---- were blamed for about the same
number. For marijuana, pretty much none. Our courts are crowded with
people who stole or hurt someone or acted stupidly while they were
drunk.

That's not to say pot is harmless. The last thing an unmotivated
15-year-old needs is a drug that will make him more likely to sit
around instead of going to class. The healthiest people likely don't
use any intoxicants - but most of us do.

But ask any police officer or social worker what causes more problems,
alcohol or marijuana, and you'll see the plausibility of the
"marijuana menace" claim vanish. (A new RAND study also debunks the
idea of marijuana as a gateway drug.)

Coleman did focus on the involvement of organized crime in grow ops, a
legitimate concern. Big grow ops mean big, illegal money, and that
will attract a range of bad guys. (Although an RCMP study of 12,000
grow op reports in B.C. revealed guns were found at six per cent.
About 24 per cent of homes in the province have firearms; police are
far more likely to encounter a gun in the average domestic call.)

Increased police pressure hasn't worked. B.C.'s Organized Crime Agency
reported that police action on grow-ops was forcing organized crime to
switch to methamphetamine labs. That hardly seems like progress.

Instead of a "get tough" stance, government should be tackling the
crime problem effectively. Perhaps eliminating the risk of prosecution
for people interested in growing a few plants would do the most to
make life harder for gangs. The saddest thing about Coleman's comments
is that they undermine the basic foundation for an effective drug strategy.

People need credible information that will let them assess and avoid
the risks of all drugs, from cognac to cocaine. Paint a false picture
of the risks of marijuana, and you will no longer be believed when you
deliver a vital warning about the effects of heroin. That's especially
true for young people, lost in their own invulnerability and quick to
dismiss any warnings.

They have been to parties with drinkers, and parties with people who
have smoked pot. They know where the greatest stupidity and violence
are found.

We don't need to wage war on marijuana; we need to get smart on drugs.
Education to avoid damaging addiction. Support for people who want to
quit. Harm reduction for people who can't or won't quit.

Solutions that work, not words.