NATION'S POT LAWS ARE ANTIQUATED

As We See It

Opponents of any possible softening of Canada's pot laws might want to take
a page from the anti-smoking book.

Linking tobacco to serious health implications helped turned the tide for
the no-smoking lobby; there's no reason to believe a similar approach
wouldn't work for the pot-busting set. It probably strikes many as being
more than a little odd that the feds are considering easing laws on toking,
while continuing to toughen rules on smoking. It would seen there is a case
to be made that there is inconsistency in the government's approach.

The latest buzz on the pot scene results from broad hints by Justice
Minister Martin Cauchon, that the federal government will move early in the
new year to decriminalize pot. Currently, being caught with any amount of
marijuana will result, if convicted, in a criminal record. If the feds do
in fact decriminalize pot, simple possession (of 30 grams or less) will
result in nothing more than a fine - much like that received from a traffic
infraction.

The health argument is valid. Physicians will tell you that smoking pot is
just as unhealthy as smoking cigarettes; the only real variance being one
of volume. Not many people smoke a 'pack' of joints a day. If they did,
their health would be at risk - although they might not care about it all
that much. And let's remember that we are talking about a mind- and
mood-altering drug.

As much as we are loath to back any move that could make 'smoking' easier,
we do support the federal initiative to decriminalize simple possession of
small amounts of pot, for personal use. We suspect we aren't alone in that
view.

Enforcing outdated attitudes and laws on marijuana tie up valuable police
and court time, which could be better used in going after far more
dangerous drugs like crack cocaine, ecstasy and heroin. Also, the notion of
marijuana as a 'gateway' to harder drugs, simply doesn't stand up to
scrutiny. If new rules are enacted, large 'grow' operations would still be
illegal, as would other aspects of trafficking. There are fields and fields
of pot growing in Simcoe County to keep police as busy as ever.
Decriminalization wouldn't lead to a surge in 'public' use; the stuff would
still be illegal. Bylaws could be enacted that would keep pot smoking as
out of sight as it is right now.

The benefits of decriminalization simply outweigh the alternative.