MP SAYS SENATE POT IDEA IS UP IN SMOKE

A report by the Canadian Senate recommending legalization of marijuana
is being flown as a flag of liberalization by pot advocates and as a
sinking Liberal party trial balloon by a local Member of Parliament.

Last Wednesday, a five member Senate committee headed by Conservative
Senator Claude Nolin and Liberal Senator Colin Kenny issued a 600-page
report advocating the legalization, regulation, taxation and sale of
marijuana. The report also recommends the drug be available for sale
to anyone over the age of 16.

"I have a hard time looking at this as a serious initiative," said
Nanaimo Alberni MP Dr. James Lunney.

Admitting his perspective on the report might be somewhat cynical,
Lunney characterized the report as an attempt by the federal Liberals
to use the Senate ("Senators aren't elected, they're appointed by -
guess who?") to float legalization as a trial balloon to gauge public
support and political risk.

While he thinks the public debate around drug use and abuse in Canada
needs to be had, Lunney doesn't believe the Senate report offers much
to that debate.

Further, he doesn't think the Senate opinion puts enough weight on the
implication full legalization could have on the country's relationship
with the international community, particularly the United States.

"Canada is already coming under the same international reputation that
Colombia has," as a gateway for drugs into the rest of the world,
Lunney said.

Lunney is waiting on an all-party committee report of non-medicinal
drug use, expected in November. Because it has a broader base, he
believes the parliamentary committee's findings will hold more
relevance for Canadians. Mark Russell questions how much Canada should
want to tailor its legal policy to that of its southern neighbour.

A long-time cannabis advocate and owner of the Cannabis Buyers Club of
Canada, Coombs Parksville branch, Russell lauds the Senate decision.
"I was thrilled - positively," said Russell. "It's the first sane
thing that's come out of Ottawa concerning cannabis in a very long
time."

He's hopeful the federal Liberals will give credence to the report and
act on it. If they do "the paranoia (about arrest) will disappear
completely and we won't have to worry about performing criminal acts
for something that isn't criminal."

The only component that raises Russell's eyebrows is the
recommendation that pot sales to people as young as 16 be legal.

"I don't think it's a great idea for any kid to indulge in drugs until
they're of an age to handle it. Is 16 too young? I would say yes,"
said Russell.

Though they seem on opposite sides of the marijuana debate in many
ways, Lunney and Russell do agree on one thing - comparing the drug to
alcohol is unfair and inaccurate.

"It's like comparing apples and oranges," said Lunney. "They're both
fruit but have entirely different consequences."

The MP also wants to see more detailed assessment of the long-term
consequences of marijuana use.

Russell just wants government to get on with it and give up on the
whole "reefer madness" approach to marijuana, saying it has been
studied repeatedly. Each time, the report has said the same thing, he
said - legalize it.

"There's nothing new here. It's all been done before," said Russell.