Pubdate: Sat, 16 Sep 2017
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2017 The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Campbell Clark
Page: A21

POT LEGALIZATION IS NO PIPE DREAM, SO AUTHORITIES SHOULD ROLL WITH IT

Too quick, many of the provinces say. There just isn't time to put in
place a way to distribute legalized marijuana, and all the rules and
schemes needed. Oh no, the police say, the timelines are tight, and
they're worried that they won't be ready for policing in the brave new
world of legal pot.

Okay folks, let's stop talking like slackers. This doesn't have to
drag on for years.

The legalization of marijuana has been debated in Canadian politics 
since the 1970s and studied by task forces and committees for decades. 
It has been official government policy for two years. There are still 10 
months before it is slated to be legal in July. Sure, there are 
significant details to work out - but this is not Mission: Impossible.

It's one thing for the provinces and police to say they haven't yet
got all the details of the legislation. But the plan to legalize
marijuana has been coming at them in slow motion through consultations
and a task force led by former justice minister Anne McLellan.

There is inertia. Some people are against it. And there could be
criticism about the way it's rolled out. So people are screaming
there's no time.

If there was no deadline, the details would keep being troublesome,
and unresolved, for years.

The provinces have to figure out how legal marijuana will be sold in
their jurisdictions and the details of non-criminal sanctions -
tickets - for breaching some of the new regulations.

It's not hard to see why provinces view this as a pain. This wasn't
their promise, it was Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's. It takes time
and political effort away from their own priorities. And announcing
their own marijuana plans will automatically bring grief.

The Ontario government was first, announcing a plan to have legal
marijuana sold in up to 150 government-run stores operated by the
Liquor Control Board of Ontario.

Premier Kathleen Wynne's Liberals were criticized for coming up with a
heavy-handed, statist regime.

That's fair enough, if you believe there's a better way, but any
marijuana plan will be criticized for being too restrictive, or too
lax, or not centred enough on health, or protecting children. No
wonder premiers are not rushing to announce theirs. Ms. Wynne's main
opponent, Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown,
argued that the legalization of marijuana "should not be rushed to
suit a political timeline." You can guess that without a political
timeline Mr. Brown would never have a plan.

It's not as though there is no experience with regulating substances.
Every province has liquor controls. There are provincial penal schemes
that involve issuing fines or tickets for contravening regulations.
It's not simple, but it's not impossible.

The police have a serious job, so their concerns shouldn't be
dismissed out of hand. They worry about training their officers for
the new law, preventing organized crime from selling marijuana to kids
under 18 and policing for driving-while-stoned offences, which they
say will require new equipment and more training.

But this is not the first change to the criminal law. The police have
been hearing the outlines of the law for a while. They have questions
about ticketing for minor marijuanaoffences, but cops have been
issuing tickets for a good long time. They ask how they're going to
deal with organized crime, but mostly, it will be the same way as before.

The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police argues forces will need
money and time to double the number of officers certified to conduct
stoned-driving tests.

But legalization will not be the first time a joint was ever smoked in
Canada. Half the population has tried marijuana. There's no reason to
believe the roads will be filled overnight with aimlessly weaving
drivers. That's just reefer madness.

And for once, the police don't have cause to complain Ottawa hasn't
funded training: The federal government announced last week it will
pour $274-million into training, labs and so on.

There will be mistakes, but not because there hasn't been enough
time.

Legalization is supposed to stop making criminals out of people who do
what half the country has done.

Deciding that needs to be done, then delaying it for years, discredits
the criminal law. Without a deadline, it seems, a lot of people
wouldn't be able to focus.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt