LEGALIZATION OF POT COMING, HOATH SAYS

Senate Report Could Ease Police Burden, Create Nightmare At School

Local News - A Senate committee charged with reporting on the pros and cons
of legalizing marijuana has given Ottawa a definite nod to the affirmative.
The 600-page report, released this week after two years in the making, has
provoked some mixed responses among Port Hope people.

Police Chief Ron Hoath doesn't condone the use of marijuana or its
legalization, but he said he expects the change will occur eventually. He
sees it as a shift in social acceptance of the drug which, he said, is used
by a wide cross-section of society. Similar to other previously taboo
activities like drinking alcohol or gambling, social perception is changing
towards marijuana.

"We realize the use of marijuana is prevalent in society. It's very high,
it's not as high as the use of alcohol, but it is certainly used by a large
segment of society," Chief Hoath said. "We realize we're fighting an uphill
battle...I see this as something that is probably going to happen."

Chief Hoath said he has been laying criminal charges against people who use
or possess pot throughout his 30-year career, and in that time, nothing
seems to have changed. If anything, marijuana use has increased.

"It is so prevalent in society that to continue in a criminal vein is
probably a mistake," Chief Hoath said.

"It will ease the burden on police if we make it a ticketable offence
rather than a criminal offence," he added.

Adults who are charged with possession now stand to acquire a criminal record.

Regardless of whether the drug is legalized, Chief Hoath said Port Hope
Police will continue their efforts to eradicate its illegal production and
trafficking. He believes the public will stand behind the police in those
pursuits.

Public use of the drug might change, however.

"If it's legal for someone to sit and smoke up a joint, they can sit and
smoke up a joint," he said.

Lyn Stevens, principal of Port Hope High School, clearly does not support
the recommendations contained in the Senate report.

"I personally would not be in favour of legalizing marijuana," Ms. Stevens
said.

The recommended age limit of 16 for pot use could cause a whole list of
problems for educators, especially considering about half of the high
school's population is 16 years of age or older, she said.

"We don't allow drugs or alcohol - even if you are of age - in our building
," Ms. Stevens said. "I can't imagine it ever being allowed in the building."

Drugs and alcohol, even if students are of age, are currently not allowed
in the school. Cigarettes, however, are allowed when students over the
legal age of 18 have them. This could cause complications were marijuana
legalized, Ms. Stevens said.

"It could be a very interesting problem to pursue. 'Is that a cigarette? Is
that something besides tobacco?' We could have a nightmare on our hands,"
Ms. Stevens said.

The use of marijuana or alcohol has a very obvious detrimental effect on a
student's ability to learn, she said.

"When we see students stoned or under the influence of drugs or alcohol,
they tend to not learn in the best fashion...For sure it affects their
ability to learn," she said, adding that attention span, listening, even
test scores are dramatically affected when students use drugs or alcohol
before attending class.

Kim Jeans, newly elected Port Hope High School prime minister, brings a
student's perspective to the argument. She doesn't agree with the complete
legalization of marijuana, but she does feel it should be reduced from a
criminal offence to a ticketable offence.

As a student, she feels marijuana already has a toehold in schools, and
legalizing it for students 16 and up would only solidify its footing. "I
don't think they should (legalize it), especially if it gets into the
schools. They have a hard enough time keeping that stuff out of the schools
as it is," Kim said.

The age limit should be at least 18, similar to the tobacco age limit, she
added.

Some experts have claimed that legalizing pot would remove the "forbidden
fruit" attraction to it, making it less desirable to young people and
eventually reducing the number of users. Ms. Jeans disagrees.

"I don't think it would decrease the use of marijuana, she said. "If
anything, I think it would increase."

She said she believes most young people who smoke marijuana don't do it for
the simple reason that it is illegal.