Pubdate: Fri, 06 Jun 2003
Source: Canadian Champion, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2003 Metroland Printing, Publishing and Distributing Ltd
Contact:  http://www.haltonsearch.com/hr/mcc/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1503
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

NOT ABOVE THE LAW

"Everybody does it" is hardly a justification many parents accept.

It does, however, appear to be a solid portion of why the Liberal 
government is drafting legislation that will decriminalize the possession 
of small amounts of marijuana.

There's some validity to its view. Clogging the courts and demanding police 
time to enforce a law the population doesn't stand behind is an expensive 
waste of time.

People only obey laws they believe to be just. If public opinion has indeed 
swung far enough around that outlawing marijuana appears unjust to the 
majority, it's time the legislation was changed.

Though the bill is still a work in progress, a draft version would see a 
small fine ($100) levied for those found carrying less than 15 grams of 
marijuana, or enough for about 25 joints. Adults would receive more severe 
fines than youths caught with the substance. And heavier sentencing and 
enforcement would be re-routed to growers and distributors of the drug.

The bill also aims to rid youths of criminal records for what many see as a 
routine rite of passage.

This goes along with the social philosophy of the new Youth Criminal 
Justice Act, which also aims to ensure young people don't pay with jail 
time or other unpleasantness for youthful indiscretions that happen to run 
afoul of the law.

It's true that a criminal record is an albatross around the neck of young 
people who've changed their ways and are trying to make a productive life 
for themselves. But it's equally true that young people bear some 
responsibility for staying on the right side of the law.

Meting out a stricter punishment for adults than youths for marijuana 
possession is teaching all the wrong lessons. Young people mustn't feel 
they're above the law. They mustn't feel their youth will protect them if 
they willfully choose to break the laws of the land.

Coming down hard on growers to squeeze out the source is a good start if 
the will to keep pot illegal is still in place.

But we do the younger generation and society as a whole no favours if we 
fail to teach them that rules matter and their youth is no excuse for 
breaking the law.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom