Pubdate: Wed, 18 Jul 2007 Source: Langley Times (CN BC) Copyright: 2007 Langley Times Contact: http://www.langleytimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1230 Author: Abbottsford News, Black Press Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) LEGALIZE MARIJUANA How many people you know have used marijuana in the past year? Would you consider them criminals? The number is probably a lot higher than you think. Some five million Canadians smoked marijuana in 2004, according to a United Nations report on drug use around the world. That's about one in six people. With B.C. being known for its particular fondness for cannabis, the ratio is probably higher here. Perhaps much higher. So, perhaps one in five of the people you know between the ages of 15 and retirement has used marijuana in the past year. You probably do not consider them to be criminals. Obviously they should not be treated in the same manner before the law as people who commit assaults, theft or fraud. But they are. We hope that Senator Larry Campbell's call for decriminalization for small amounts of marijuana gains traction. He rightly points out that 600,000 Canadians who have been charged with marijuana possession offences have criminal records, and have difficulty travelling to the U.S. or crossing other international borders. The Liberal government put forward a bill to decriminalize marijuana in 2003. This came about after the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police recommended fines for simple possession, instead of Criminal Code charges. Most Canadians believe that possessing and using small amounts of marijuana is generally a victimless crime, and one that causes little damage to society. Prohibition, which has created a massive black market and underground economy, with guns and violence to protect profits, is causing more harm. - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath