FREE MARY JANE

One day, instead of propaganda, Big Brother could be selling us all the
green leaf.

A recent Canadian Senate report suggested marijuana legalization is a
future possibility.

Beyond the Senate report, the legalization debate has many voices. "We have
no idea what the effects of complete legalization [of marijuana] would be,"
explained Richard Garlick, director of communications at the Canadian
Centre for Substance Abuse.

"Not even in the Netherlands is marijuana completely legalized or even
decriminalized," said Garlick, noting decriminalization involves completely
removing laws against marijuana from the Criminal Code.

"They have instituted depenalization - reducing the penalty attached to
simple possession," Garlick explained.

Depenalization seems the likely option, Garlick said, adding legalization
does not seem to be a genuine possibility.

"In studies of 11 different states in the U.S. where depenalization has
occurred, there is no huge upsurge of people using the drug," Garlick said.
"People's decision to use marijuana does not seem to be based on legality,"
Garlick said. "Not many people are waiting for the law to change so they
can toke up."

According to Peter Young, owner of Organic Traveler, a marijuana
paraphernalia store in London, depenalization is already in effect.

"Two and half years ago, Bill C8 stated that 30 grams less a gram of the
dried flower is not an indictable offense, but instead a fine is
administered," Young said.

According to Young, marijuana is not a stepping stone to harder drugs.

"The step after cannabis is a much higher step than the previous steps,"
Young said, adding 90 per cent of people stop at pot, preferring an all
natural experience.

"Marijuana is not damaging to your body or society, once you have reached
full development," Young said.

The health consequences of marijuana are highly controversial and must be
looked at from different angles, said Michael Cook, a Western professor in
the department of physiology and pharmacology.

Though the active ingredient is THC, when burned for smoking purposes,
marijuana omits thousands of other chemicals, similar to tobacco, Cook
said. "THC does have profound effects such as euphoria, laughter,
relaxation, as well as other feelings," Cook said, though adverse effects
are noted such as a potential THC overdose.

"If the legalization of marijuana was to occur, one would find oneself more
in the company [of marijuana] and frequency of use would increase," said
Paul Whitehead, a Western professor of sociology.