WAR ON MARIJUANA OFF BASE

VICTORIA - 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 marijuana 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.

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. We
need education to avoid damaging addiction, support for people who want to
quit, harm reduction for people who can't or won't quit. In other words
solutions that work, not words.