Pubdate: Mon, 29 Dec 2003 Source: Alaska Highway News (CN BC) Copyright: 2003 Sterling Newspapers Ltd. Contact: http://www.canada.com/fortstjohn/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/716 Author: Michael Heintzman Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) Editorial -- DON'T LEGALIZE POT Last week's Supreme Court ruling on pot possession means it's still an illegal substance, and shows that there is some rational thought in Ottawa after all. In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld a federal law prohibiting possession of small amounts of marijuana. And while so-called pot crusaders were "bummed out", the decision puts the onus on the government to decide which way Canada will head on the issue. Critics charge that penalties for possession are out of whack with constitutional guarantees of fundamental justice, but the high court ruling states that the ban on possession of even small amounts of marijuana falls within the constitution and does not violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The ruling, however, says that it's up to Parliament if it wants to decriminalize marijuana possession. And that puts the fate of pot smokers squarely in the hands of the federal Liberals. Despite former Prime Minister Jean Chretien's jokes about trying the drug once it's decriminalized, one would hope his successor isn't going to be so flippant about the issue. But, unfortunately, Prime Minister Paul Martin has reportedly signaled that decriminalization could happen with a new bill to be reintroduced next year. That would be a mistake. Marijuana proponents say the legalization of the drug would break the ties to organized crime, with guns and grow-ops disappearing as supermarket pot (federally taxed, of course) pops up on shelves. With the government getting their cut, they argue, there'll be nothing left for the underworld, citing drops in crime rates in countries like Holland where marijuana has been legalized. It is true that public attitude has softened on pot use, but that's no reason to make it legal. Pot is not the greatest problem in our communities, but the decriminalization of the drug is nothing but a short-term cop-out for lawmakers to wash their hands of what in many cases is a relatively minor crime. We've made great strides in the last decade bringing to light the dangers of cigarette smoking, so do we really want to raise our children puffing on joints as they walk to school? Existing laws are adequate. But more work needs to be done on the science of addiction and the long-term effects of marijuana before anyone should declare it safe and victimless. - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl