Pubdate: Wed, 31 Jul 2002
Source: Edmonton Examiner, The (CN AB)
Copyright: The Edmonton Examiner 2002
Contact:  http://www.edmontonexaminer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1837

LEGALIZING MARIJUANA IS A DOPEY IDEA

To toke or not to toke. That is the question being mulled over by the 
federal government in the wake of the growing international trend to 
decriminalize marijuana possession.

With Britain recently joining the club, now Canadian Justice Minister 
Martin 'I'm 39 years old, of course, I tried it' Cauchon says Canada may 
soon follow suit.

To be clear, decriminalization of marijuana possession doesn't mean pot 
smokers won't face punishment if they are caught holding a bag of weed ... 
at least not yet. But, by removing marijuana possession from the Criminal 
Code, convicted users would not have to appear in court or suffer a 
permanent blotch on their criminal records. Instead, they would be fined in 
the same manner as a person who is caught speeding. Proponents say this 
will help unclog Canada's beleaguered court system, taking as many as 
25,000 cases out of the legal pipeline.

That's possible (although cops will still have paperwork to do to hand out 
fines). But opponents of the idea have legitimate concern that 
decriminalization of marijuana will bring its own problems with it, and is 
simply a baby step toward the eventual legalization of weed in general.

Under terms of the proposal, traffickers of marijuana would still be 
subject to prosecution and criminal records while users of the drug would 
not. In addition to the obvious mixed message this sends to the public 
(it's wrong to grow and sell pot, but it's okay to smoke up), this also 
creates a legal mine field. At what point does noncriminal possession of 
marijuana cross the line into a criminal act? Will supplying weed to a few 
friends constitute trafficking?

Turning a legal blind eye to pot possession is bound to give marijuana 
lobbyists greater momentum to have the drug legalized and that's something 
Canadians should not be looking forward to.

Pot supporters are always quick to argue that marijuana is no more harmful 
that alcohol or tobacco. Alcohol, in particular, is responsible for a whole 
slew of social problems and accidental deaths. That may be true, but it 
hardly justifies adding another vice to the list of legally-tolerated drugs 
we'd be better off without. Adding to the problem makes it better?

That type of reasoning is just as ludicrous as wanting to legalize 
marijuana simply because 'lots of Canadians are doing it' so it is unfair 
to saddle people with a criminal record or tie up the court system. 
Following that twisted logic, police would be wise to legalize other 
offenses such as prostitution or shop lifting. That would at least help 
lower the crime rates, and free up time for other 'more serious' crimes.

The fact is, the majority of marijuana proponents are far more interested 
in the drug's 'recreational' uses that any medicinal effects.

And with with side-effects of marijuana including impaired judgement and 
motor skills, there is no compelling reason to make it legal.
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