Pubdate: Thu, 18 Aug 2005
Source: Ottawa X Press (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005 Ottawa X Press
Contact:  http://www.ottawaxpress.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/330
Author: John Akpata
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?196 (Emery, Marc)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)

IRRATIONALITY IN CANADA'S DRUG POLICY

In light of the arrest and requested extradition to the United States of 
Canadian marijuana activist Marc Emery, I thought I'd talk to an expert 
about Canada's drug laws and policy to find out if the government is stoned 
or if I am.

Eugene Oscapella is an Ottawa Lawyer who teaches drug policy in the 
department of criminology at the University of Ottawa. He is also founding 
member of an independent, not for profit research group and think tank 
called the Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy. He was able to share his 
thoughts on Canada's cannabis laws.

On Marc Emery

"I am appalled at the apparent political nature of this request for 
extradition. The DEA is going after Marc Emery because he has been so 
politically outspoken, and because he has been one of the principal funders 
of the drug law reform movement in Canada," said Oscapella. Cutting off 
funds is an effective means of censoring debate. "It is a political act to 
suppress political dissent in another country," he added. The selling of 
cannabis seeds has been tolerated in Canada for over 10 years.

On Canada's cannabis laws

"Our laws are an abomination. Criminalizing this activity is not only 
futile but counter-productive. Politicians, who profess to be so 
intelligent, cannot grasp the simple economics of prohibition. By 
prohibiting something that people want, you foster a black market. This 
draws criminals in to sell the product. By toughening up the laws it will 
drive some of the small players out of business, and deliver

the market into the hands of larger, more violent players. Prohibition is 
what makes the sale of drugs so fantastically profitable. Prohibition does 
not work."

On the goals of drug policy

"The first goal in drug policy should be to prevent the loss of life. The 
second goal should be to prevent the spread of disease," Oscapella told me. 
This means life-saving measures to prevent the spread of HIV and hepatitis 
C, such as syringe-exchange programs, safe injection sites, safe crack kits 
and heroin maintenance kits. "Drug policy should be designed to help treat 
drug users as human beings."

On Ottawa's drug scene

"Ottawa does not have an epicentre of highly visible drug use, and we have 
deluded ourselves into thinking that there is not a lot of drug use in 
Ottawa. There are about 3,500 injection drug users in Ottawa. We have one 
of the highest rates of HIV among injection drug users, the second highest 
rate in Canada. The rate of uptake of new cases of HIV is also very high. 
Ottawa has a very serious health problem pertaining to injection drug use. 
The policy should also consider why these people are using the drugs in the 
first place."

Because THC is not water soluble, it is not possible to inject it via 
syringe and needle. Cannabis can only be smoked or eaten. THC is five times 
more psychoactive when eaten and digested, as opposed to smoking. An annual 
survey of Oscapella's university classes revealed that cannabis use is very 
high, and virtually no other illegal substances are used.

Will the laws ever change?

"I am not holding my breath. There is outside pressure from the 
administration of the United States. The best hope is that within the next 
couple of years cases going through the courts will help the process of 
creating new laws," said Oscapella.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom