WHAT THE FUSS IS ALL ABOUT

Facts about marijuana:

What is it? Dried leaves, flowers and stems of the hemp plant from the
genus Cannabis. It contains tetrahydrocannibol (THC) which can produce
an intoxicating sensation when used. How is it used? Leaves and the
concentrated resin known as hashish are usually smoked. How many
people use it? A new Senate committee report estimates as many as two
million Canadians have used cannabis in the last year and as many as
100,000 use it daily. Police say as much as 800 tonnes of cannabis
circulates in Canada each year.

Justice issues:

Cannabis was outlawed in 1923, amid what the Senate report called a
"panic" over drugs. About half of the 90,000 drug incidents reported
each year involve cannabis and up to 600,000 people have criminal
records for simple possession. Cost of drug enforcement runs at $1
billion to $1.5 billion a year, with a third of that related to cannabis.

Effects:

The Senate report said cannabis use can cause short-term memory loss
and loss of co-ordination and concentration, but the effects wear off.
High doses or first-time use can also cause anxiety, disorientation,
vomiting, even convulsions. Other names: Pot, dope, Mary Jane, ganja,
hemp, reefer.

Marijuana legalization

Highlights of a Senate committee report Wednesday recommending that
Canada legalize the use of marijuana and hashish:

Marijuana and hashish should come under a regulatory system for
production and sale under licence for legal use by any Canadian
resident over 16. Looser rules for the use of medical marijuana should
provide easier access. The law should be changed for those who drive
after using both alcohol and marijuana, with blood-alcohol limits
lowered to .04 per cent in such cases. The government should erase the
criminal records of 300,000 to 600,000 Canadians convicted of simple
possession of marijuana. The government should appoint a national
adviser on psychoactive substances. The government should call a
conference of the provinces, municipalities and other interested
parties to set the ground rules for legal marijuana. The government
should finance research on drugs and on prevention and treatment
programs, financed by taxes on the sale of legal marijuana.