Pubdate: Tue, 20 Jan 2009
Source: Trail-Rossland News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 Trail-Rossland News
Contact:  http://www.trailrosslandnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4398
Author: Robert Sharpe

CANADA SHOULD LIGHT-EN UP OVER MARIJUANA USE

RCMP marijuana eradication efforts are no doubt well-intended, but 
ultimately counterproductive.

The drug war's distortion of immutable laws of supply and demand 
causes big money to grow on little trees. Canadian tax dollars are 
being wasted on anti-drug strategies that only make marijuana growing 
more profitable.

In 2002, the Canadian Senate offered a common sense alternative to 
prohibition when the Special Committee on Illegal Drugs concluded 
that marijuana is relatively benign, marijuana prohibition 
contributes to organized crime, and law enforcement efforts have 
little impact on patterns of use.

Consider the experience of Canada's southern neighbour, the former 
land of the free and current record holder in citizens incarcerated.

Based on findings that criminal records are inappropriate as health 
interventions, a majority of European Union countries have 
decriminalized marijuana. Despite marijuana prohibition and perhaps 
because of forbidden fruit appeal, lifetime use of marijuana is 
higher in the U.S. than any European country.

The short-term health effects of marijuana are inconsequential 
compared to the long-term effects of criminal records.

Canada should follow the lead of Europe and just say No to the 
American inqunsition.

The results of a comparative study of European and U.S. rates of drug 
use can be found at:

http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/pubs/espad_pr.pdf

*MTF is funded with U.S. government grants

Robert Sharpe, MPA

Policy Analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, DC
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom