Pubdate: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 Source: Montreal Gazette (CN QU) Copyright: 2007 The Gazette, a division of Southam Inc. Contact: http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/274 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Tony+Clement DRUG CAMPAIGN IS OVERDUE Health Minister Tony Clement is taking the right tack with his planned anti-drug information campaign. After years of discussions over whether marijuana should be legalized or decriminalized, many Canadians are now a little vague about the legal status of marijuana. It is illegal, Clement stated firmly this week, and it will remain so under a Conservative government. If the Conservatives have made up their minds against decriminalizing marijuana - an option we continue to favour - the next best solution is to make sure the law is understood, and to inform Canadians of the legal and health consequences of using it. As long as this new firmness does not result in young Canadians being arrested wholesale, this is fair enough. But there's a conundrum here: If marijuana possession is to remain illegal, how will the government deal with the countless users of it, without creating vast new crowds of criminals? Clement's tacit answer seems to be "by an advertising campaign." What would not be fair is to saddle more young people with criminal records to haunt them for the rest of their days. A criminal conviction for the minutest possession can bar a Canadian from the United States, a country that, despite a notable lack of success, remains committed to an all-out war on drugs. Clement is on more useful ground with his plan to launch a "plain truth" campaign. As he pointed out this week, Canada has not had a significant campaign on the subject of drugs for about 20 years. This means an entire generation of Canadians has not had the benefit of plain talk about illicit drugs and their effects. Studies have found even a so-called soft drug like marijuana is not entirely harmless. Among some users predisposed to mental illness, specifically schizophrenia, marijuana might heighten the risk of mental-health problems. Driving while high on drugs is, of course, no safer than driving drunk, although a large number of young people seem not to know this. A 2005 Ontario Drug Use Survey found one in five high school students drove within an hour of using marijuana. In its campaign, Canada could take a lesson from some U.S. anti-smoking campaigns. These very successful campaigns were designed specifically to appeal to youngsters. Since most adult smokers take up smoking when still in their teens, it is important to aim such campaigns at the right demographic. Among U.S. anti-smoking campaigns are those that have highlighted short- and long-term health consequences. Other campaigns have concentrated on countering misperceptions that smoking is widespread among teens. Informing youngsters of anything is not easy. Clement should be under no illusions. He has his work cut out. - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath