Pubdate: Thu, 13 Mar 2014
Source: Thunder Bay Source (CN ON)
Copyright: 2014, Thunder Bay Source
Contact:  http://www.tbsource.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3129
Author: J.R. Shermack

CANADA KEEPS ROLLING

When Prime Minister Stephen Harper was asked recently if he was a pot 
smoker, his answer was a little evasive.

He replied with a question of his own, "Do I seem like I smoke marijuana?"

That's a good one Mr. Prime Minister but since you are asking, the 
answer is yes you do seem like the type.

Mr. Harper has preconceived notions about the Canadian pot-smoking 
stereotype and he probably thinks a straight arrow like him doesn't 
fit the profile.

But the fact is, some of his political colleagues and cronies have 
sheepishly admitted to rolling doobies in the '60s and '70s and they 
appear to be forcing his hand on this issue.

His current nemesis, Justin Trudeau, has used his position as Liberal 
Leader to call for legalization, taxation and regulation.

Thomas Mulcair's office has confirmed some pot-related indiscretions 
by the NDP leader years ago but staffers are hush-hush about details.

His party supports the decriminalization of marijuana although not 
legalization.

Two of our national leaders have openly admitted to using pot and who 
knows how many other elected officials are hiding their own secret shame.

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne says she once puffed a little but that 
was 35 years ago - surely the effects have worn off by now.

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is surprisingly good with numbers 
considering he readily admits to smoking pot during his teenage years 
- - we should probably check his addition.

Even our beloved Jack Layton, when asked if he had ever used 
marijuana, answered with that sparkle in his eyes, "Yes, and some 
might say I never exhaled."

And of course, last but not least, Jimmy Kimmel's good friend Rob 
Ford has proudly disclosed that he has smoked pot, and lots of it, 
and mind your own business.

Addressing the issue

Stephen Harper might try to separate himself from the hippie lobby in 
the House but he suddenly feels a compelling need to address this issue.

Some baby boomers might remember the Le Dain Commission, established 
by Pierre Trudeau in 1969 to study the non-medical use of drugs.

The recommendations were politically explosive at the time, calling 
for the decriminalization of all drugs and a $100 fine for possession.

Now, after almost 50 years, Mr. Harper is an unlikely candidate to 
get things rolling, so to speak, even if he is only prepared to make 
small changes.

He and some of his Conservative buddies are considering a ticketing 
system for simple possession of small amounts of pot.

That way when the police catch you with a suspicious baggie in your 
pocket they can write you a ticket and levy a fine instead of sending 
you to federal prison.

One observer notes that although this change appears to be better 
than the status quo, it could be a cleverly disguised shakedown.

Because there are no regulations in place now, police may turn a 
blind eye on minor pot violations instead of wasting valuable 
resources on victimless crimes.

If Mr. Harper gets his way, they can slap a ticket and a fine on 
law-abiding pot-smokers - no big deal but very irritating and 
inconvenient, like parking fines and panhandling.

Is he trying to harsh Canada's buzz or what?

It all seems very trivial and laughable at times but it may finally 
be time for some serious discussion as well, about medical 
applications and commercial opportunities.

The PM is an economist - maybe he sees a revenue stream he can tap into.

He doesn't look or act like a hippie but he obviously has pot-smoking 
on his mind.

Whatever he decides to do, Canada will keep on rolling.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom