Pubdate: Thu, 06 Mar 2014
Source: Truro Daily News (CN NS)
Copyright: 2014 The Daily News
Contact:  http://www.trurodaily.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1159

TORIES SEE HIGH TIME FOR CHANGE

By one small step the federal Conservatives are showing a willingness 
to advance beyond reefer madness mentality.

Justice Minister Peter MacKay indicated Wednesday that the government 
is considering relaxing the laws against marijuana, allowing police 
to ticket people caught with small amounts rather than laying charges.

The MP for Central Nova also noted this would not be a move to 
legalize or decriminalize pot.

The Conservatives would need to make that clear to distinguish their 
stance on a controversial topic, since Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau 
recently expressed support for outright legalization and regulating 
sale of marijuana. He argues that would be the better approach to 
keeping the drug away from minors, rather than a set of laws that 
hand sales over to the criminal element.

Certainly treating the possession of small amounts as a misdemeanor - 
in league, say, with jaywalking - would be a good practical move. 
Police chiefs in the country have made such a suggestion. And the 
thought that such minor arrests help clog the court system is 
ludicrous. That observation has been wafting around for decades.

There are some who will argue that such a measure as forwarded by 
MacKay does not go far enough. Views on this drug will range from 
those who believe it is harmful to the opposite end of the spectrum - 
an era in which two states in the U.S. have legalized it for 
recreational use. It is an issue that still divides.

As the laws now stand, even first-time offenders can face fines of up 
to $1,000 or as much as six months in jail for possessing small 
amounts. Do it again, it could be five years. Granted, we seldom see 
such sentences applied, but it's on the books - for reasons Canadians 
can only surmise.

The Conservatives sense they are a step or two behind the prevailing 
public view on this topic. Although it's far from an election issue, 
they need to show some mobility on it or risk being dismissed by some 
for outdated thinking.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom