THINKING OUTSIDE THE HOT BOX

Given the inconsistencies in Canada's drug laws, it's difficult to
discern when and where we should take an active stance for or against
illegal drug use.

Existing laws cloud our perceptions of drugs and how some may be
different from others. Ritalin and alcohol, while legal, have
potentially deadly side-effects on the heart and liver, respectively.
On the other hand, marijuana has fewer detrimental effects,
especially if it isn't smoked. The seemingly baseless standards on
which these laws are created complicate the ethics of punishment.
While some cases are clear-cut -- certainly those supplying cocaine
should be policed -- others aren't so easy.

Many dealers at Western see themselves as businesspeople; dealers may
not even regularly use the drugs they sell. Also, considering the
recent U.K. report claiming marijuana and ecstasy are safer than
alcohol, some aren't harming people any more than any Richmond Row bar is.

The usual arguments for legalizing marijuana -- the missed tax
revenue, the saved expense of policing the drug -- still hold weight.
Yet, even for more seriously harmful or addictive drugs, trying to
force people to stop using or dealing isn't always effective.
Illegality creates underground drug trades, where purity cannot be
verified and the dangers associated with drug use increase.

Still, these considerations aren't enough to conclude legalizing more
drugs is the best solution. Legalization would make drugs ubiquitous.
The fact that many people are surprised to learn alcohol is
considered more dangerous than marijuana is testament to the fact
that, in general, people don't think carefully enough about legal drug use.

Drugs' legality poses particularly significant problems when we
examine "self-medication." If a student feels their prescribed
medication doesn't aid their mental problems, but drugs like
marijuana or Ritalin do, should we fault them? Pot and non-prescribed
Ritalin are considered "wrong" because they're illegal, not
necessarily because of their side-effects. A heavy dose of booze or
any over-the-counter medication can harm someone as easily, if not
easier, than cannabis.

Choosing drugs based on legality doesn't guarantee safe choices.
Legalized drugs don't always affect our lives positively, just as
illegal ones don't always affect us negatively.

The only surefire way to help the population make good decisions
about drugs is education. Firm knowledge on a drug's short and
long-term side-effects and addictiveness helps people make informed decisions.

All we can do is ensure there is ample information for people
considering drug use and open, judgement-free avenues for people
seeking help for drug-related problems.