DECRIMINALIZING MARIJUANA IS A PRAGMATIC STEP FORWARD

Changing Pot Laws: No Record for Having Small Amount

Any move to relax Canada's marijuana laws inevitably runs into a
whirlwind of controversy. For all of the problems created by the
criminal conviction of people with small amounts of marijuana, there
is still widespread reluctance to do anything that runs the risk of
encouraging more consumption of the drug.

If a parliamentary committee chaired by Burlington Liberal MP Paddy
Torsney carries the day, Canada will break new ground by
decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana. Possession of up to 30
grams would be subject to a ticket and fine, rather than a criminal
record.

In the committee's view, it's more sensible to redirect police
resources to more serious problems, including the growing traffic in
marijuana, as opposed to putting people at risk of a record for
smoking pot.

On balance, the committee's recommendation to decriminalize simple
possession is a progressive, pragmatic step. It's not a foolproof
remedy for the problems created by marijuana and more potent drugs,
but it should help to create more respect for the law.

The evidence suggests that the current approach does more harm than
good. More than 21,000 Canadians were charged with simple possession
of marijuana in 1999, an 11 per cent increase compared to 1995. Just
as disturbing, individual police forces and Crown prosecutors applied
the law in significantly different ways. That's unfair and
unacceptable, given the potentially devastating consequences and
stigma of a criminal record.

Decriminalization is coming under renewed attack from critics in
Canada and the United States, who charge that it would encourage young
people to indulge in marijuana. We're not at all sure of that. If the
government balances decriminalization with a strong educational
campaign to remind people of the dangers of marijuana, it might well
achieve much-needed success in discouraging demand for drugs. The
committee didn't exactly open the floodgates. Trafficking of marijuana
would remain a crime, and legalization -- treating marijuana in
similar fashion to alcohol -- was ruled out.

A Senate committee, among others, has supported the legalization
philosophy. Authorities could regulate the supply, and control the
quality and potency of the drug, if it were legal. Those are solid
arguments, but we believe Canada isn't ready for legalization. It
would be too readily misconstrued as a sign that Parliament isn't
concerned about the widespread use of marijuana and its potential to
act as a gateway to more dangerous drugs.

It's important to emphasize that decriminalization is not intended to
be an excuse for young people to start smoking marijuana. Torsney is
right in stressing the need for a strong education campaign about the
health issues related to smoking marijuana, which, like tobacco, is
inherently unhealthy. Some aspects of the committee's report --
including the wisdom of the 30-gram limit (enough to make 30 or more
marijuana cigarettes or "joints") -- need careful review.

In general, however, the committee's blueprint points the way to a
more effective approach to the marijuana dilemma.