Pubdate: Sun, 25 Jul 2004 Source: Kamloops This Week (CN BC) Copyright: 2004 Kamloops This Week Contact: http://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1271 Author: Jim Harrison Note: Jim Harrison is news director of Radio 'NL. His column appears Sundays. Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) POTHEADS PROLIFERATE We're not exactly a bunch of potheads, but Canada seems to be heading that way. The Statistics Canada study showing marijuana use has nearly doubled in the past 13 years should be a surprise to no one. While we spend a great deal of effort to convince people not to smoke because of its obvious health and social consequences, as a nation we don't seem to have that same sense of urgency when it comes to marijuana. Although it backed away from ownership of one of its own reports, the Fraser Institute suggested not long ago that the drug be legalized with the tax revenue amounting to a new bonanza for government. The federal government has been sending out warm and fuzzy signals that have encouraged Canadian Cheech and Chongs for the past few years. It's OK to smoke pot for medicinal purposes, they say, even though there's no proof of any related benefits. With growing numbers of people ignoring the law that makes possession and use of even small amounts illegal, the federal politicians are racing to decriminalize those who have and use less than 15 grams at a time. The new generation of marijuana, especially B.C. bud, is said to be far more potent that the stuff the so-called hippie generation smoked. Young people notoriously live for the moment and aren't much interested in what regular marijuana use might do to them over time. And police have been like mice on treadmills trying to keep up with the crooks growing and selling the drugs - and those they do catch most often get a kiss from a judge and are soon released. So, if our lawmakers don't take this so-called illegal drug seriously, is it any wonder more than 12 per cent of Canadians don't either? - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake