Pubdate: Sat, 01 May 2004
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2004, Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.fyiottawa.com/ottsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author: Jody Pressman
Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor, headline by newshawk

LETTER OF THE DAY

Constitution Takes A Back Seat

Re "Blood samples to help smoke out doped-up drivers" (April 27): Mr. 
Toews' assertion that decriminalizing marijuana will lead to increased 
consumption is a lark. How could consumption possibly be increased beyond 
the record-breaking levels we have seen under the current 
non-decriminalized environment?

If anything, legal rules, regulations, and education -- not simply 
decriminalization and increased penalties -- are the way to reduce 
consumption and impaired-driving rates.

Police already have all the tools they need to detect and arrest impaired 
drivers, but in the post-9/11 world, does anyone even notice when the 
Constitution takes a back seat to police powers? The Canadian Bar 
Association -- which has criticized Mr. Cotler's proposed legislation -- 
has it right: Only fools rush in.

Jody Pressman

Fill the Hill

Event Co-ordinator

(Have the Liberals ever rushed anything related to drug legislation?)
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom