A POT POLL WILL SHOW HOW POLS GO

The ideological shadings that differentiate Canada's political parties came
into sharper focus this week as members of Parliament staked out their
positions on marijuana possession.

The Liberal majority on the special parliamentary committee on the
non-medicinal use of drugs thought that people should be punished with just
a fine, not a criminal conviction, if they are caught in possession of a
small quantity of marijuana. Others on the committee agreed, but then it
became necessary to define how small is small. The Liberals thought 30
grams was about right. Thirty grams is what used to be called one ounce and
it might be enough to keep a casual user of marijuana giggling and
glassy-eyed for a couple of weeks. At least so my friends tell me. I
haven't had a joint for some years now and I'm told the grass they sell you
now is way stronger than what we used to smoke back in the 1970s, so maybe
that is actually a month's supply for a casual user.

The Canadian Alliance agrees that possession of small amounts of marijuana
should not be a criminal offence but considers 30 grams to be far too much.
Randy White, the Ally on the dope panel, thought five grams would be about
right. Five grams -- one fifth of an ounce -- might be enough for one
couple and their kids to enjoy an evening of recreation and meditation.

Libby Davies, the New Democrat on the panel, thought there should be no
fines and no limits. The government should be considering "a non-criminal,
regulatory approach that doesn't involve fines, for example."

The Tories had not yet stated their view. They are generally trying to be
somewhere between the Liberals and the Alliance, positioned to appeal to
voters in both camps. They should probably be urging a limit of 17.5 grams.
If they come up with a number higher than that, it means the Red Tories are
taking charge. If the PC possession quota is lower than 17.5 grams, that
means the party is tilting to the right. The Bloc Quebecois will, I expect,
demand freedom for Quebec to set its own marijuana possession laws.

This test of rightness and leftness is of special interest just now while
two and a half of Canada's political parties are holding leadership races.
NDP leader candidates have been working their way across the country
holding all-candidates meetings where party members can size them up in
anticipation of the Jan. 25 leadership vote. Party members need a simple
way of sorting the candidates in order from left to right. The pot
possession quota offers a tidy system. Liberals are doing their best to
field some challengers against Paul Martin so that Mr. Martin will have to
win the leadership next November, not merely claim it. The federal
Progressive Conservatives, meanwhile, have booked the Metro Toronto
Convention Centre for the weekend of May 29 for a leadership convention to
replace the departing Joe Clark for their half a leadership race. It may
become a full race if, sooner or later, they can scare up some candidates.

It can be tricky figuring out in a leadership race which candidate stands
where on the political spectrum. The parliamentary dope committee has given
the country a fairly straightforward test. Just ask each candidate how many
grams of marijuana they would let Canadians have without a criminal
sanction. Anyone who says less than five is a right-winger. Anyone who says
more than 30 is a left-winger. Anyone who picks a number in between is a
middle-roader. Anyone who changes the subject and refuses to state a number
is probably Paul Martin.

Politics can be pretty rough-and-ready stuff, but on points like this it
gets highly scientific. Leadership, after all, consists of finding out
where the crowd is and which way it is going and trying to put yourself
squarely in the middle. If polling and focus groups show you that a
good-sized crowd favours possession of 15 grams, then put that in your
program. But if the Tories have already picked 17.5 grams and you want to
be thought more progressive than the Tories, then you should bid 18 grams.

My own position is 31 grams. I am a liberal in a hurry, but only enough
hurry to stand a little apart from the crowd, not so much that I lose
contact with mainstream thought. I seem to be working in a newsroom of
extreme left-wingers, but they won't get me above 32 grams. Not me. I'm a
man of principle.