Pubdate: Fri, 06 Sep 2002
Source: Sault Star, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2002 The Sault Star
Contact:  http://www.saultstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1071
Author: Frank Dobrovnik

LOCAL ACTIVIST 'FLOORED' BY SUGGESTION TO LEGALIZE POT

Local News - The Senate recommendation that Canada legalize marijuana for 
anyone 16 and over went further than even many pot activists and the health 
community advocated for.

The operator of Sault Ste. Marie's Planetary Pride and organizer of the 
annual Hempfest weekend was "a little bit flabbergasted" by Wednesday's 
report from the Senate committee charged with studying Canada's marijuana laws.

"It almost floored me, actually. I was expecting recommendations to 
decriminalize (and put) a fine structure in place," said Rob Waddell, who 
e-mailed the committee a letter supporting legalization when it sought 
public input.

In a series of sweeping recommendations, the committee said cannabis should 
be legally available to anyone over 16 and pressed for an amnesty to as 
many as 600,000 Canadians who have criminal records for possession of the 
drug. Even Waddell agrees some control measures should be in place, similar 
to provincial agencies that monitor alcohol sold to the public.

"Instead of the LCBO, we could have the CCBO - the Cannabis Control Board 
of Ontario."

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health made submissions to the 
committee last year advocating the decriminalization of marijuana - which 
would let people possess and use small quantities of cannabis without 
facing a criminal record - along with more public education on its health 
effects and treatment.

Also Thursday, Justice Minister Martin Cauchon was quoted as saying 
legalizing marijuana is "just not possible from an international point of 
view" but decriminalizing might be a "first step" in reforming drug laws. 
Cauchon said he'll have a new policy ready early next year, but first he 
wants to see the report of a Commons committee which has been studying the 
issue of illicit drugs. That report is expected in November.

Dr. Patrick Smith, CAMH vice-president of clinical programs, head of the 
addiction psychology program at the University of Toronto, said public 
health policy around cannabis use needs to change because "Current 
strategies don't seem to be yielding any positive effects," such as 
deterring youths from using or getting treatment for those who need it.

"While marijuana is not a benign drug, just as alcohol or tobacco aren't 
benign drugs, it's clear that many people who use cannabis do so without 
serious or negative consequences," Smith said from Toronto Thursday.

"We do not support the smoking of marijuana, saying it's completely 
risk-free, but that's exactly why we focus on decriminalization . . . The 
criminalization of marijuana has continued to focus on enforcement of 
criminal behaviour rather than when its use becomes problematic. We should 
be focusing on the stuff we do have evidence works, and that's effective 
prevention and health programs."

That approach is in line with the Sault-based Ontario Association of Chiefs 
of Police. On its Web site, OACP came out against "any type of legalization 
of any and all current illicit drugs in Canada" but "would entertain any 
government initiative to decriminalize (conviction doesn't give rise to a 
criminal record) certain offences related to the possession of small 
amounts of marijuana . . . with the proviso that there be corresponding 
initiatives instituted by the government, including a balance of 
prevention, education, enforcement, counselling, treatment, rehabilitation 
and diversion programs . . ."

The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service has consistently laid fewer 
cannabis-related charges since 1999, and fewer drug charges overall since 
at least 1997. Last year 150 cannabis-related charges were laid, compared 
with 178 in 2000 and 201 the year before.

Police Chief Bob Davies and deputy chief Bob Kates were out of town and not 
available for comment Thursday.

Waddell predicts the Commons committee will take a similar stance to the 
Senate and decriminalization will follow "probably next year," with full 
legalization within five years if the federal government doesn't bow to 
U.S. pressure.

"How far the government will go is hard to say. There's going to be a 
tremendous amount of pressure from south of the border. The United States 
does not want to give up its war on drugs."
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