Pubdate: Thu, 06 Mar 2014
Source: News, The (New Glasgow, CN NS)
Copyright: 2014 Transcontinental Inc.
Contact:  http://www.ngnews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3343
Page: 8

TORIES SEE HIGH TIME FOR CHANGE

By one small step the federal Conservatives are showing a willingness
to advance beyond reefer madness mentality.

Justice Minister Peter MacKay indicated Wednesday that the government
is considering relaxing the laws against marijuana, allowing police to
ticket people caught with small amounts rather than laying charges.

The MP for Central Nova also noted this would not be a move to
legalize or decriminalize pot.

The Conservatives would need to make that clear to distinguish their
stance on a controversial topic, since Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau
recently expressed support for outright legalization and regulating
sale of marijuana. He argues that would be the better approach to
keeping the drug away from minors, rather than a set of laws that hand
sales over to the criminal element.

Certainly treating the possession of small amounts as a misdemeanor -
in league, say, with jaywalking - would be a good practical move.
Police chiefs in the country have made such a suggestion. And the
thought that such minor arrests help clog the court system is
ludicrous. That observation has been wafting around for decades.

There are some who will argue that such a measure as forwarded by
MacKay does not go far enough. Views on this drug will range from
those who believe it is harmful to the opposite end of the spectrum -
an era in which two states in the U.S. have legalized it for
recreational use. It is an issue that still divides.

As the laws now stand, even first-time offenders can face fines of up
to $1,000 or as much as six months in jail for possessing small
amounts. Do it again, it could be five years. Granted, we seldom see
such sentences applied, but it's on the books - for reasons Canadians
can only surmise.

The Conservatives sense they are a step or two behind the prevailing
public view on this topic. Although it's far from an election issue,
they need to show some mobility on it or risk being dismissed by some
for outdated thinking.
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MAP posted-by: Matt