Pubdate: Wed, 07 Jan 2004
Source: Whitecourt Star (CN AB)
Copyright: 2004 Whitecourt Star
Contact:  http://www.whitecourtstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/718
Author: Rob Merrifield - MP

FEDERAL LIBERALS HURTING OUR FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL DRUGS

 From Parliament Hill

Jasper Booster - Recently, Health Canada released an alarming report on 
teen drug use. It showed that almost 85,000 Canadian teens between the ages 
of 12 and 19 smoke marijuana daily, and that in 2003 34 percent of teens 
had tried marijuana more than once - a dramatic spike from 1993 levels of 
13 per cent.

Here in Yellowhead, we are witnessing first-hand the negative effects of 
increased teen drug use in our schools and on our streets. Drug users and 
the criminal element that closely follows are tarnishing both our image as 
a safe place to raise families and the reputation of the majority of youth 
who have responsibly stayed away from drugs.

It is not that we are doing nothing. Our communities have been proactive in 
holding meetings where parents, citizens, youth and police have come 
together to discuss the challenges and steps necessary to drive drugs out 
of Yellowhead. I attended one of these meetings and was pleased to see 
everyone united in ridding our community of drugs.

While Yellowhead battles this problem, the federal Liberals have decided to 
take an increasingly soft stand on drug use. The Liberals ' incoherent 
response to drug use in Canada has left youth with the impression that drug 
use, particularly pot smoking, is now acceptable.

This is especially troubling in Yellowhead where drug dealers have begun to 
lace marijuana with the highly addictive and dangerous drug 
methamphetamine, more commonly know as crystal meth. Now is the time to 
take a tough stand against illegal drugs.

We can all agree that the current system in place to deal with marijuana 
producers and users does not work. The courts are unable, and in many 
circumstances unwilling, to deal with marijuana possession cases. If the 
courts are not going to do it then we must give police the necessary tools 
to effectively deal with marijuana at street level.

These tools should include giving police the ability to issue substantial 
fines on the spot for anyone caught with very small quantities of marijuana.

This change must be in conjunction with severe penalties for repeat 
offenders as well as for those who produce and sell drugs on our streets.

We must send the message that drug use, no matter how minor, does have 
immediate consequences.

The federal Liberals' solution is to issue small fines to those caught with 
up to fifty marijuana cigarettes. This is a ridiculous limit that sends the 
message to Canadian youth that marijuana is not that bad.

And despite the efforts of our community to rid our streets and schools of 
drugs, the Liberals ' brand of justice includes a youth discount for 
marijuana possession, even though it is the same offence.

Stronger legislation, harsher penalties and increased education and 
available resources to communities and police are the direction we should 
be moving. I will take that message to Ottawa and am currently in the 
process of drafting a Private Members Bill to help with our community' s 
efforts. More on that in the new year.

Please feel free to contact me with your thoughts or suggestions at 
1-800-268-7117 or at www.merrifieldmp.com
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom