STEADY HAND NEEDED TO GUIDE DECRIMINALIZATION

There's a lot more to decriminalizing marijuana possession than merely
passing a law. That's the essence of the message from Brockville Police
Chief Barry King, who has long favoured decriminalization for possession of
small amounts of pot.

We hope Justice Minister Martin Cauchon listens to people like Chief King
as he prepares to introduce a law decriminalizing pot possession.

Unfortunately, Cauchon's ambitious timetable for decriminalization - he
said last week he plans to introduce a bill sometime this winter - might
not provide enough time to consider all the consequences.

It appears Cauchon isn't ready to legalize marijuana, as suggested by a
Senate report earlier this year. Possession would still be subject to
sanctions such as a fine.

The main difference from existing laws is that occasional smokers wouldn't
be saddled with a criminal record.

Decriminalization is not an unreasonable position - saddling someone with a
criminal record for smoking a joint serves no useful purpose - but there
are several considerations before the federal government takes even this step.

As Chief King, who is chairman of the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse,
suggested in The Recorder and Times last week, the government needs to take
some measures to ensure drug-impaired drivers can be kept off the roads.
This may require a change in impaired driving laws and new equipment for
police to allow them to determine if a driver is high.

There is the additional problem that decriminalization could send the
message that marijuana use is OK. Despite what marijuana advocates - they
comprise a large and well-organized lobby - argue, research shows that
smoking pot is not a good thing, potentially damaging both your lungs and
your brain.

This is why Chief King suggests the federal government should not proceed
with decriminalization until it has in place a new drug strategy, focusing
on prevention, enforcement and research.

Cauchon must also decide the threshold for decriminalization. A
parliamentary committee that studied the issue is recommending 30 grams;
King suggests five grams.

If the level is set too high, it will merely result in marijuana dealers
carrying smaller quantities with them as they go about their rounds.

The parliamentary committee recommended smokers be allowed to grow their
own pot. Such a provision might very well reduce the number of large-scale
operations, such as grow houses and outdoor plots, and thus remove at least
some of the influence of organized crime from the drug trade.

Again, however, some definition is needed to guide police so they can
determine the difference between a few plants for personal use and a
criminal enterprise.

Perhaps the thorniest issue involving decriminalization of marijuana is
what impact it will have on our relationship with the United States.

John Walters, director of the U.S. office of drug control policy, warned
Canadians that relaxed drug laws could result in big trouble at the border.

Canadians have been quick to lecture the U.S. that Canadians, not
Americans, determine policy in Canada. That's true, but we should remember
that Americans, not Canadians, determine policies to guard the U.S. border.

If the U.S. feels that marijuana consumption is a serious problem - whether
or not they're right about this doesn't much matter - and that Canada is
likely to contribute to that problem, then they'll deal with it by
tightening the border.

Consequently, it might be easier to smoke a joint in Canada, but more
difficult to conduct the cross-border trade that is essential to Canada's
prosperity.

The federal government would do well to have extensive consultations with
the U.S. before it acts, so the Americans know what we're up to and to
ensure that decriminalization will not disrupt the border.

It might be as simple as impressing on the U.S. administration that Canada
is not advocating marijuana use, but simply dealing with offenders in a
different way.

Hopefully, the government will ensure all of these factors are considered
before it proceeds with decriminalization of marijuana.