A THEORY UP IN SMOKE

The theory of legalizing marijuana here in Canada has been an idea passed
around for a long time, but as of yet, no headway has been made.

The most recent report by the Senate committee calling for the complete
legalization of this drug to halt organized crime and involvement with the
drug and eliminate the stigma of it has caused nation-wide debate, but the
report only goes so far.

The committe has made some statements that hold merit, such as smoking
marijuana does not appear to inevitable lead to addiction or use of harder
drugs, and that the health effects, although not completely determined, do
not appear worse than the abuse of other legal substances, such as tobacco
and alcohol.

But overall, the report did not delve into any of the questions left wide open.

- -Is there a large public demand for the legalization, organization and
franchising of this drug? -Will similar forms of the drug with higher THC
(Tetrahydrocannabinol) be legalized as well? -What level of taxation will
be attached to the legalization of the substance? -What will the legal age
be set at, and on what basis will this be set? -Will driving under the
influence of the drug be a crime? If so, will there be on-the-spot tests
available to be conducted by law enforcement agencies? -What would be done
to people who currently have charges laid gainst them for marijuana possession?

It was a time of celebration for many when they heard the senate was
pro-smoke, but members of a cabinet of the average age of 64.4 can only do
so much.

While the police maintain their anti-legalization policies, insisting that
marijuana leads to harder drugs, a stimulant for violence and a partner to
organized crime, the current laws give possession the same legal
consequences of a jay-walking ticket.

This was mentioned in the report by the senate, lead by Senators Claude
Nolin, declaring the government is "throwing taxpayers money down the drain
on a crusade -this is not warranted by the danger posed by the substance."
Furthermore, the money that is currently being used on the 21,000 Canadians
arrested a year for possession could be freed up to catch real criminals,
at a benefit to tax payers.

We even have Justice Minister Martin Cauchon giving his support in
decriminalizing the drug, as well as the Canadian Centre on Substance
Abuse. Basically, the idea for marijuana legalization has so far been just
that, an idea. It has so far been tucked away with the majority of reports
conducted through time in parliament, gathering dust in the back shelves of
the government, with no questions answered.

What the government needs to do now is break out of the ivory towers and
practically approach these questions and see if there is a even a means to
create this new market.

Only then will many be able to celebrate.