Pubdate: Sat, 31 Aug 2013
Source: Guelph Mercury (CN ON)
Copyright: 2013 Metroland Media Group Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.guelphmercury.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1418
Page: A6

MOVE SLOWLY ON POT REFORM

Stephen Harper may have never smoked marijuana himself, but he's
wisely considering a better way to handle people who do. The prime
minister said Thursday his government is looking "very carefully" at
giving police the power to ticket, rather than charge, people caught
with small amounts of marijuana. This is a timely and careful approach
to reform that answers in a reasonable way the rising chorus of
Canadians who want changes to the country's marijuana laws.

A nationwide debate about legalizing marijuana has heated up this
summer. Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau made headlines, first when he
called for legalizing the drug, and again when he admitted to smoking
pot after he had been elected to Parliament.

Trudeau's ideas resonated with many Canadians, particularly younger
ones. At the same time, other people who also back reform were wary of
diving into the relatively unchartered waters of legalized pot.

For its part, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police passed a
resolution earlier this month that urges a change to the federal
Contraventions Act that would give police authority to issue fines for
people possessing small quantities of marijuana. Harper, who made
headlines himself this week when he flatly stated he has never smoked
pot, is obviously open to the chiefs' proposal.

There are good reasons for taking this first, small step on the
marijuana file. Laying charges for simple marijuana possession puts a
heavy burden on police and the courts. The consequences for those who
are convicted of this crime can be serious and make it more difficult
for them to find employment or travel out of the country.

Moreover, Canadians increasingly see marijuana as a recreational drug
that is as acceptable as alcohol. Many go further, arguing that pot
causes far fewer health and social problems than booze. The calls for
legalization are, however, premature.

This summer, the small South American nation of Uruguay took steps to
become the first country in the world to fully legalize the production
and sale of marijuana. Meanwhile, the American states of Colorado and
Washington are implementing new laws allowing the recreational use of
pot. Fair-minded people might ask: If marijuana use is so benign, why
have so few jurisdictions embraced legalization?

This newspaper believes there are legitimate concerns about
legalization that need to be resolved before this country seriously
considers taking that route.

How would a legal supply of marijuana be grown, regulated and sold?
How would Canada prevent it from being smuggled out of the country,
particularly across the border and into the United States which,
despite the liberality of Colorado and Washington State, often
officially takes a dim view of drug use? How will police prevent
people from driving cars while impaired with marijuana?

And what would the long-term health impacts be? If marijuana becomes
legal, it is certain that more people will use it. Do we want to
promote more drug use? How long will it be before we see governments
battling to reduce marijuana use just as they have spent decades
trying to reduce tobacco consumption?

A more tolerant approach to the recreational use of marijuana that
stops far short of legalization would acknowledge these concerns and
give us time to assess what is happening in other jurisdictions while
we consider just how far we want to go in Canada.

Let's look at the ticketing option first.
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MAP posted-by: Matt