ELLEY NOT READY TO PUFF ON MARIJUANA LAW YET

Canadian senators have jumped the gun by recommending the legalization of
marijuana and hashish, says Nanaimo-Cowichan MP Reed Elley.

The contentious position was released last week, as part of a special Senate
committee report on marijuana use in Canada.

It advocates ending the current system of prohibition and replacing it with
a regulated one that mirrors the laws dictating alcohol consumption.

But Elley believes senators should have waited for a House of Commons
committee report on the total subject of illicit drug use in Canada before
voicing an opinion on only one element.

"My own sense of it is it was kind of an irresponsible move. Maybe they
thought they needed some attention," Elley said Monday. "I think the jury is
still out on a lot of things, such as the long-term affects of marijuana use
on people. There's a lot of conflicting evidence."

Under the Senate committee's recommendations, pot smoking would be legal for
any resident over age 16. The report also advocates amnesty for the 300,000
to 600,000 Canadians who have a criminal record for simple possession of
cannabis.

In its rationale, the committee stated the existing prohibition system
simply doesn't work, and is too expensive. The cost of drug enforcement in
Canada runs at between $1 billion and $1.5 billion a year, with a third of
the total related to cannabis.

The committee also argues that marijuana is substantially less harmful than
alcohol, and that using it should be categorized as a public health issue,
not a criminal issue. While most political parties support decriminalization
- - a halfway point that would make it legal to possess small amounts of
cannabis for personal use - total legalization is a step too far. Elley
agrees.

"Personally, marijuana use is not desirable, and I certainly wouldn't
counsel my kids to use it," he said, adding he does support the freedom of
choice to use medicinal marijuana if "good science" shows it's effective. "I
feel we're promoting more health and wellness these days, and total
legalization goes against that."

The Senate committee's contentious report has also drawn praise from pot
advocates, and tough criticism from police enforcement agencies.