Pubdate: Fri, 03 May 2002
Source: London Free Press (CN ON)
Copyright: 2002 The London Free Press a division of Sun Media Corporation.
Contact:  http://www.fyilondon.com/londonfreepress/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/243
Author: Canadian Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

SENATE PANEL PONDERS POT EFFECTS

OTTAWA -- Marijuana may not be so bad after all, says a report from 
Canada's chamber of sober second thought.

The Senate committee on illegal drugs, chaired by Senator Pierre Claude 
Nolin, issued a discussion paper yesterday after studying the pros and cons 
of pot use for 14 months.

The report, intended to guide public consultation on marijuana issues, says 
it's probably better not to use marijuana, a psychoactive substance that 
can affect some people's health.

But those effects, it notes, are relatively benign.

It says scientific evidence suggests marijuana isn't a "gateway drug" 
leading to harder drugs, doesn't cause criminal, aggressive or anti- social 
behaviour or hurt academic performance. The scientific jury, however, is 
still out on its effects on driving.

The report also concludes efforts to prevent marijuana use have little 
impact -- young Canadians are smoking up in greater numbers than ever.

An estimated 30 to 50 per cent of people 15 to 24 years old have used 
cannabis despite its illegality, the report says.

And the paper suggests millions spent fighting pot use is wasted. Federal 
agencies spend an estimated $500 million a year fighting illegal drugs.

The arguments aren't new -- many were made in the 1973 Le Dain report of 
1973. But Ottawa has been reluctant to change the law.

The report, however, is silent on whether the law should be changed. That 
will come in its final report in August.

The committee plans public consultations on the issue in six Canadian 
communities in coming weeks.

The discussion paper offers no recommendation.
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