Pubdate: Mon, 23 Dec 2013 Source: Calgary Sun, The (CN AB) Copyright: 2013 The Calgary Sun Contact: http://www.calgarysun.com/letter-to-editor Website: http://www.calgarysun.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/67 Author: Dave Breakenridge SEX, DRUGS, CONS AND POLLS The House of Commons or the common bawdy house? The political party you'd last associate with sex and drugs is looking at a couple of years with sex and drugs on the political agenda. And you thought politics were boring. While the Conservatives have been content to focus on economic issues over the last couple of years, they've had two big social issues foisted on them - one by the Supreme Court, and one by their political foes. The Supreme Court last week declared wide swaths of our prostitution laws unconstitutional, and popular Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has moved marijuana legalization into the spotlight. At the heart, they both deal with something dear to many a conservative's heart - namely, the freedom from the government dictating some pretty personal choices. But they are issues that spur the "Crime is bad, mmmmkay?" response from the government. While there are many in the conservative movement who see nothing wrong with small government including lax laws around drugs and prostitution, the problem for the Conservative Party is that this rubs others in the big blue tent the wrong way. Better to ignore touchy subjects and keep the peace than legislate your way through a tricky political minefield. Whether they like it or not, that's all set to change. The courts have forced the prostitution issue onto the government's plate, giving the feds a year to come up with new legislation that respects the rights of sex workers. And there are now hints the government is softening its stance on low-level pot possession, considering fines for the crime. Not my ideal solution, mind you, and we're a long way from decriminalization, but I'm willing to accept baby steps. Regardless of what the government does, there are two truths in this world: People are still going to exchange money for drugs. People are still going to exchange money for sex. And just because those notions don't jive with the moral codes of some in this country doesn't mean those activities should be criminalized. I get that there are some ugly realities in both these worlds, and that they often intersect. There has to be a way for the government to legislate in these sometimes unseemly truths so that the vulnerable are protected, and that predators are dealt with. But the road that many Tories want to go down, the "Nordic" approach of criminalizing the purchase of sex, hasn't proven to be any more successful at protecting women working in the sex trade. Studies there have shown no decrease in clients, or workers. Debating these issues isn't a bad thing, for the Conservative Party or for the country. Public opinion polls, even in the Tory heartland of Alberta, show growing support for supposed liberal issues, like drug legalization. A recent study from Lethbridge College, specifically targeting Albertans, found support for medical marijuana is nearly 80%, and support for the decriminalization of marijuana has jumped from 36% in 2009 to slightly over 50% in 2013. Meanwhile, polls have shown as many as two-thirds of Canadians support the notion of legalized brothels. Not that polls alone make for sound policy, but it's not such a far-fetched idea. All that said, there should still be a focus on human trafficking and forced prostitution, while also helping people who want off the street and helping people addled by addiction. There are no easy answers here. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to find them. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom