Pubdate: Sun, 08 Sep 2002
Source: Meadow Lake Progress (CN SN)
Copyright: 2002 Meadow Lake Progress
Contact:  http://www.bowesnet.com/mlprogress/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2156
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

LEGALIZING POT NOT SUCH A BAD IDEA

Right on, dude...looks like the feds are pondering the legalization of 
marijuana. A Senate committee has unanimously called for the legalization 
of the drug across the country. The idea has sparked debate across Canada 
and has stirred criticism from the United States. The Senate committee also 
wants government-licensed production and sale of the drug to any Canadian 
over the age of 16.

In it's 600-page report, the committee concludes that dope is not harmful 
and should be readily available to cannibis consumers. Purchasing the drug, 
if it is legalized, would be as easy as purchasing tobacco or alcohol 
products. Marijuana has been banned in Canada since 1923.

While the Senate committee is stoked about the idea of making pot legal, 
other organizations are not so thrilled.

The Canadian Police Association is calling the plan "a back-to-school gift 
for drug pushers."

Hardly. By legalizing pot, the senate is not encouraging it's use. 
Legalization is not an endorsement of it's use.

It is a way of opening up some doors to accept a soft drug which does 
nothing more than make the user see some really cool psychadelic colours. 
Marijuana is not nearly as serious as heroin, for example. With dope, the 
user does not share needles, does not risk disease, and does not ruin their 
life. Hence the classification - soft drug...recreational use.

Domestic and international experts, along with regular Canadians have said 
that imposing criminal records on users is unacceptable, at least in this 
country. The attraction to the drug is that it's illegal. Maybe this 
attraction is from the 12 to 17 year olds of our society. Without accusing 
or singling out teens, the opportunity for them to try a soft drug without 
harsh consequences makes it appealing. It should also be noted that nearly 
two million Canadians over the age of 18 use cannibis on a daily basis. 
That number is more than double the number of teens using the drug in the 
same frequency. Liberal Senator Colin Kenny said making pot legal will 
actually result in the decreased use of marijuana. Why? Because the risk of 
being caught is taken away. The thrill of doing something illegal disappears.

Prosecuting drug charges in Canada costs close to $1.5 billion annually, 
and nearly one third of those charges involve marijuana.

The committee's chair, Progressive Conservative Senator Pierre Claude 
Nolin, said it's time to steer away from a "regime where we stick our heads 
in the sand, like ostriches. We are aware that several hundred thousand 
Canadians are using cannibis. The hipocrisy of the current system is not 
the way to go."

The committee formed it's opinion after more than two years of studying 
drug policy and interviewing 234 witnesses across Canada and around the 
world. As a case-in-point, cannibis is technically illegal in Holland, but 
is tolerated. More than 450 coffeeshops in Amsterdam offer a safe place to 
sit down, chill out and smoke up. The Dutch are known for their tolerance, 
and this is no different. The coffeeshops offer a place to buy and use soft 
drugs, because they separate the soft drug users from the hard drug 
dealers. In any coffeeshop you can roll a joint, smoke a pipe or get 
blitzed from a bong. They too are regulated by the government on a local 
level, which requires them to obtain a license and pay taxes.

The whole idea behind the Dutch tolerance of marijuana, amongst other 
things, is that recreational use of pot is less harmful to society than 
persecution and incarceration. It's time we took a lesson from the fine 
folks over in Holland.

Legalization of this soft, harmless drug is a smart move by the Senate. It 
is a simple, liberal, with-the-times move that allows those who are sick 
easier access to a drug which will ease their pain. Those who want to get 
blitzed for fun can do so. No big deal. At least they aren't costing the 
health care system billions of dollars in treatment of lung cancer, or 
addiction to alcohol.

I.R.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager