COLEMAN'S POT POSITION SHREDS HIS CREDIBILITY

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. 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.