Pubdate: Mon, 29 Dec 2003
Source: Alaska Highway News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2003 Sterling Newspapers Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/fortstjohn/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/716
Author: Michael Heintzman
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

Editorial --

DON'T LEGALIZE POT

Last week's Supreme Court ruling on pot possession means it's still an 
illegal substance, and shows that there is some rational thought in Ottawa 
after all.

In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld a federal law 
prohibiting possession of small amounts of marijuana. And while so-called 
pot crusaders were "bummed out", the decision puts the onus on the 
government to decide which way Canada will head on the issue.

Critics charge that penalties for possession are out of whack with 
constitutional guarantees of fundamental justice, but the high court ruling 
states that the ban on possession of even small amounts of marijuana falls 
within the constitution and does not violate the Charter of Rights and 
Freedoms. The ruling, however, says that it's up to Parliament if it wants 
to decriminalize marijuana possession. And that puts the fate of pot 
smokers squarely in the hands of the federal Liberals.

Despite former Prime Minister Jean Chretien's jokes about trying the drug 
once it's decriminalized, one would hope his successor isn't going to be so 
flippant about the issue. But, unfortunately, Prime Minister Paul Martin 
has reportedly signaled that decriminalization could happen with a new bill 
to be reintroduced next year. That would be a mistake.

Marijuana proponents say the legalization of the drug would break the ties 
to organized crime, with guns and grow-ops disappearing as supermarket pot 
(federally taxed, of course) pops up on shelves. With the government 
getting their cut, they argue, there'll be nothing left for the underworld, 
citing drops in crime rates in countries like Holland where marijuana has 
been legalized.

It is true that public attitude has softened on pot use, but that's no 
reason to make it legal. Pot is not the greatest problem in our 
communities, but the decriminalization of the drug is nothing but a 
short-term cop-out for lawmakers to wash their hands of what in many cases 
is a relatively minor crime. We've made great strides in the last decade 
bringing to light the dangers of cigarette smoking, so do we really want to 
raise our children puffing on joints as they walk to school?

Existing laws are adequate. But more work needs to be done on the science 
of addiction and the long-term effects of marijuana before anyone should 
declare it safe and victimless.
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