Pubdate: Wed, 14 Nov 2012
Source: Midland Mirror (CN ON)
Copyright: 2012 Metroland
Contact: http://www.simcoe.com/generalform
Website: http://www.simcoe.com/community/midland
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2211

WHAT IS THE PM SMOKING?

How ironic that on the day voters in two American states opted to
legalize marijuana, the Stephen Harper government's obscenely punitive
measures took effect in Canada.

Can you say "out of touch?"

In last week's election, voters in Colorado and Washington supported
ballot-box propositions to remove criminal penalties for the
possession and sale of pot for recreational use.

Far from allowing a marijuana free-for-all, however, Colorado and
Washington lawmakers will implement regulatory systems with licensed
growers and rules regarding use.

Colorado expects to generate millions in tax revenue for constructing
new schools. Washington will funnel pot revenue into health-care programs.

"I really think this is the beginning of the end for marijuana
prohibition, not only in the U.S., but in many countries across the
world," Sean McAllister, an ex-assistant attorney general in
Washington, told The Guardian newspaper. "We didn't just legalize it;
we created a regulatory system."

Barring federal interference, Colorado and Washington will essentially
remove the need for users to seek out illegal sources (ie. organized
crime).

Contrast all this with Canada, where a government intent on extending
the War on Drugs launched long ago by Richard Nixon (and revived to
little effect by Ronald Reagan), will now jail you for six months if
you are caught growing as few as six plants.

Believe it or not, the new pot punishment is twice the mandatory
minimum for luring a child to watch porn, or for exposing oneself on a
playground.

As stated by the Global Commission on Drug Policy last year, the War
on Drugs has been a dismal, costly, international failure.

How much will incarcerating small-time growers cost Canadian
taxpayers? How will that in any way deter organized crime? How much
court time will be tied up dealing with trivial transgressions?

Who is Harper trying to impress? The Conservatives' willingness to
fill jail cells with people caught growing small amounts of a
substance less harmful than alcohol is absurd.

Harper's policy is an old-school Republican solution at a time when
bad drug policies and old-school Republicans are being left behind.
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MAP posted-by: Matt