Pubdate: Thu, 05 Jun 2003
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2003, Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.fyiottawa.com/ottsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author: Jonathan Colford
Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor, headline by newshawk

CURBING CONSUMPTION

So let me get this straight: They are replacing jail for marijuana 
possession of 15 grams or less with fines ... and spending $240 million on 
a program to get kids to stop smoking it? Unless they're going to crack 
down like meter maids and issue fines left and right to pay for this, I 
smell another Liberal boondoggle here (and some fat ad contracts for 
someone to develop the "Say no to pot" campaign).

In some twisted way I think this could actually reduce consumption, because 
if the police aren't arresting kids because no one feels getting caught 
smoking a joint is worth a criminal record, then they'll probably start 
giving the fines, because anyone who walks around with 15 joints can afford 
the $100 (or their daddy can).

So long as we still say doing drugs is wrong and against the law, I'm fine 
with the fines.

The goal is curbing consumption and if the fines can do that, (whereas jail 
has failed), then great. If the cops aren't giving out the fines even, 
well, it's another Liberal waste of money and time.

Jonathan Colford

Toronto

(We won't be surprised in the least if that's what it turns out to be)
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens