LOCAL ACTIVIST 'FLOORED' BY SUGGESTION TO LEGALIZE POT

Local News - The Senate recommendation that Canada legalize marijuana for
anyone 16 and over went further than even many pot activists and the health
community advocated for.

The operator of Sault Ste. Marie's Planetary Pride and organizer of the
annual Hempfest weekend was "a little bit flabbergasted" by Wednesday's
report from the Senate committee charged with studying Canada's marijuana laws.

"It almost floored me, actually. I was expecting recommendations to
decriminalize (and put) a fine structure in place," said Rob Waddell, who
e-mailed the committee a letter supporting legalization when it sought
public input.

In a series of sweeping recommendations, the committee said cannabis should
be legally available to anyone over 16 and pressed for an amnesty to as
many as 600,000 Canadians who have criminal records for possession of the
drug. Even Waddell agrees some control measures should be in place, similar
to provincial agencies that monitor alcohol sold to the public.

"Instead of the LCBO, we could have the CCBO - the Cannabis Control Board
of Ontario."

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health made submissions to the
committee last year advocating the decriminalization of marijuana - which
would let people possess and use small quantities of cannabis without
facing a criminal record - along with more public education on its health
effects and treatment.

Also Thursday, Justice Minister Martin Cauchon was quoted as saying
legalizing marijuana is "just not possible from an international point of
view" but decriminalizing might be a "first step" in reforming drug laws.
Cauchon said he'll have a new policy ready early next year, but first he
wants to see the report of a Commons committee which has been studying the
issue of illicit drugs. That report is expected in November.

Dr. Patrick Smith, CAMH vice-president of clinical programs, head of the
addiction psychology program at the University of Toronto, said public
health policy around cannabis use needs to change because "Current
strategies don't seem to be yielding any positive effects," such as
deterring youths from using or getting treatment for those who need it.

"While marijuana is not a benign drug, just as alcohol or tobacco aren't
benign drugs, it's clear that many people who use cannabis do so without
serious or negative consequences," Smith said from Toronto Thursday.

"We do not support the smoking of marijuana, saying it's completely
risk-free, but that's exactly why we focus on decriminalization . . . The
criminalization of marijuana has continued to focus on enforcement of
criminal behaviour rather than when its use becomes problematic. We should
be focusing on the stuff we do have evidence works, and that's effective
prevention and health programs."

That approach is in line with the Sault-based Ontario Association of Chiefs
of Police. On its Web site, OACP came out against "any type of legalization
of any and all current illicit drugs in Canada" but "would entertain any
government initiative to decriminalize (conviction doesn't give rise to a
criminal record) certain offences related to the possession of small
amounts of marijuana . . . with the proviso that there be corresponding
initiatives instituted by the government, including a balance of
prevention, education, enforcement, counselling, treatment, rehabilitation
and diversion programs . . ."

The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service has consistently laid fewer
cannabis-related charges since 1999, and fewer drug charges overall since
at least 1997. Last year 150 cannabis-related charges were laid, compared
with 178 in 2000 and 201 the year before.

Police Chief Bob Davies and deputy chief Bob Kates were out of town and not
available for comment Thursday.

Waddell predicts the Commons committee will take a similar stance to the
Senate and decriminalization will follow "probably next year," with full
legalization within five years if the federal government doesn't bow to
U.S. pressure.

"How far the government will go is hard to say. There's going to be a
tremendous amount of pressure from south of the border. The United States
does not want to give up its war on drugs."