Pubdate: Wed, 07 Dec 2005 Source: North Bay Nugget (CN ON) Copyright: 2005 North Bay Nugget Contact: http://www.nugget.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2226 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada) ROTA, CHIRICO BLOWING SMOKE Nipissing-Timiskaming Conservative candidate Peter Chirico and Liberal incumbent Anthony Rota are not well informed about the decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana. The fact both oppose proposed federal legislation to fine those caught with 15 grams or less of the drug, instead of turning them into criminals, indicates neither is well read on the subject. The federal government's proposal was to "decriminalize" marijuana, not advocate or promote its use, or make it legal. The plan was to stop making criminals out of occasional users, wasting money in the court and police systems, thereby freeing up resources to deal with more serious drug problems such as crack cocaine and designer drugs like ecstacy and crystal meth. It would also free resources to crush organized crime and running grow-ops across the country. The war on the occasional pot smoker was over long ago and the federal Liberals rightly saw Canada's archaic laws were out of sync with modern society. Chirico and Rota just don't get it. In fact, Chirico stated such legislation was a mistake and more police should be on the street. There would be more police on the street if the officer wasn't in court testifying against a father of three who was found to have a couple of joints in his pocket -- who now may lose his job because he is a "criminal." Rota states he wouldn't support his party on the legislation because local police officers have told him the amounts permitted without a criminal charge were large enough for wayward teens to bring to school to sell. While it's important to teach children healthy lifestyles and to steer clear of drugs, it has nothing to do with decriminalization. In fact, existing legislation has done nothing to curb marijuana use by teens or anybody else. So, why are we making criminals out of our children and wasting valuable court and police resources? That money would be better spent on programs such as the police-run Drug Awareness and Resistance Education (DARE) programs in schools. Marijuana use does not lead to the use of harder drugs. It is not addictive and probably less harmful than tobacco or alcohol, both legal substances from which governments reap huge tax benefits. Let's get back to reality. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake