Pubdate: Fri, 02 Aug 2013
Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)
Copyright: 2013 The Edmonton Journal
Contact: 
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/opinion/letters/letters-to-the-editor.html
Website: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134
Author: Terry Field
Note: Troy Media columnist Terry Field is an associate professor and 
program chair of the journalism major in the bachelor of 
communication program at Mount Royal University in Calgary.

TRUDEAU LIGHTS UP DEBATE ON POT LAWS

Liberal Leader Shows Courage With New Outlook on Old Problem

That's the view of Justin Trudeau, leader of the Liberal Party of 
Canada, and the only Canadian political figure of note to have the 
guts to speak to the issue.

Immediately and predictably attacked by his political opponents, 
Trudeau is nonetheless right to suggest that we, as a society, need 
to consider new approaches to an ages old problem.

Trudeau's view is likely new to most Canadians, though he has mused 
about it publicly before. Readers might also be surprised to hear 
that many Latin American politicians and policy analysts are saying 
the same thing.

The issue is far too complex to address in a short column, but we can 
agree there is a need to explore alternatives to our current way of 
dealing with drugs.

Let's also allow that marijuana use will damage your health, and that 
legalization would have consequences. There is a tendency among most 
politicians and editorial writers to use that argument to dismiss 
change out-of-hand, when they should be willing to at least explore 
the possibilities. The argument for legalization would primarily be 
an acknowledgment of failed social policy.

It is a fact, even a sad one, that human beings will explore the use 
of substances that alter their state of mind. It is certainly sad 
that many millions of North Americans live desperate lives as a 
result of overuse and resulting addiction. The question of what to do 
about it is challenging.

It was U.S. President Richard Nixon who established the so-called 
"war on drugs" in the 1970s, which beefed up policing and military 
activities in the United States and in countries around the world 
that supplied drugs to American users.

That war, as Trudeau rightly suggested, has been a complete, abject, 
costly, failure on all levels.

Drug use is more rampant now than then. Highly militarized and 
monumentally wealthy cartels are also trafficking in armaments and 
humans, as well as drugs. Our response politically has been to spend 
even more money, only to see more than 50,000 people killed in Mexico 
alone over the past half-dozen years.

Ironically, even though the United States, and by geography Canada, 
are the main markets for drugs in North America, the most active 
minds and voices on the subject are in Latin America.

As recently as May of this year, an Organization of American States 
(OAS) report concluded that governments of the hemisphere need to 
look seriously at the potential value of legalizing marijuana.

The OAS has never been known for its radical take on things and is in 
fact highly conservative. It has been forced into taking this stance 
by its members, with Canada and the U.S. on the wrong side of the 
prevailing view.

Predictably, President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Stephen Harper 
have dismissed the idea out of hand. It is mind-boggling that such 
smart men are so afraid of considering the idea, particularly when so 
many equally smart people are open to its consideration. It seems 
that Obama and Harper are satisfied with the status quo - the deaths, 
social disruption and gang violence in their communities.

Marijuana is the most widely used illicit substance on the planet, 
driving an underground industry in the billions. Making its use legal 
could severely impact gang activity everywhere.

Selling it as we do alcohol and cigarettes would allow for limits on 
strength and additives, and control in sales to minors. 
Tobacco-styled warnings could be put on packages, and driving under 
the influence treated severely.

The billions of dollars generated in taxes could be used to treat 
addictions for all kinds of drug use and pay for public education campaigns.

People will continue to use drugs and our choice is to either 
continue advancing policing and military responses or to examine 
reasonably considered alternatives.

Trudeau should be applauded for having the courage to address the 
issue. It would be nice to see other Canadian policymakers, political 
analysts and editorialists join in a serious examination of the 
possibility and potential of change.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom