Pubdate: Wed, 10 Sep 2014
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2014 The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Bill Curry
Page: A6
Cited: Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse: http://www.ccsa.ca/

HEALTH GROUP CALLS FOR POT-POLICY REVIEW

Government-Funded Organization Seeks 'Evidence to Inform the 
Discussion on Legislative Change,' As Parties Take Sides on Legalization

The Health Canada-funded Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse is 
calling for a broad review of marijuana policy, including a closer 
look at the impact of legalization south of the border in Colorado 
and Washington.

The centre says there is "momentum for policy change" when it comes 
to marijuana and wants Ottawa to fund an independent study of the 
economic and social effects of potential reforms, including 
decriminalization and legalization.

"What we're doing is highlighting the need for evidence to inform the 
discussion on legislative change," said Rebecca Jesseman, the 
centre's lead researcher on marijuana policy.

The centre's recommendation is contained in one of more than 400 
pre-budget submissions from groups and individuals made public 
Tuesday by the House of Commons finance committee, which is expected 
to begin public hearings later this month on ideas for the 2015 
budget. The centre is an arm's-length organization created as an Act 
of Parliament in 1988 that receives nearly all of its $6.6-million in 
funding from Health Canada.

The call for such a review comes as the regulation of marijuana is 
shaping up as a key point of debate in the run-up to the 2015 federal 
election. Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau is proposing full 
legalization of marijuana, and the governing Conservatives have 
strongly criticized that position via political advertising.

Federal Justice Minister Peter MacKay has nonetheless left the door 
open to changes that would shift enforcement toward ticketing rather 
than criminal enforcement. Mr. MacKay told reporters last month in 
Vancouver that he was considering whether to introduce new 
legislation that would allow police to issue fines rather than lay 
charges for marijuana possession.

A spokesperson for Mr. MacKay's office declined comment on the 
centre's specific request for a study, but provided a statement 
criticizing Mr. Trudeau's proposal. "The Liberal Party wants to make 
smoking marijuana a normal, everyday activity for Canadians," said 
press secretary Clarissa Lamb. "We, on the other hand, want to 
protect children and teens from the harmful effects of smoking pot on 
their health and development."

The NDP favours decriminalization, a move that would end criminal 
charges for possession but would stop short of full legalization. NDP 
MP Libby Davies noted the Conservative-controlled health committee is 
wrapping up a study titled "Marijuana's health risks and harms," 
which she said was clearly biased from the start.

"All they're interested in is setting the stage politically for their 
own ideological view on this issue," she said. "It is high time to 
have some kind of objective, thoughtful, relevant policy discussion 
about the need for drug-policy reform, beginning with marijuana."

In addition to reviewing the policy aspects, the centre also 
recommends an awareness campaign on the health effects of marijuana 
use among young Canadians.

The proposed review would look at a ticketing option proposed by the 
Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police as well as international 
approaches, listing the Netherlands, Australia, Uruguay, Colorado and 
Washington as examples; the two U.S. states only began allowing legal 
sales on Jan. 1 of this year.

Liberal MP Marc Garneau said his party would welcome an independent 
review of the issue. "Anything that is going to shed some light from 
a science point of view or an evidence point of view is a good thing," he said.

The centre's submission notes that many of the social impacts of 
marijuana use are related to the criminal justice system, with 
marijuana possession accounting for more than half of the 57,429 drug 
crimes reported by police in 2012.

"These crimes impact Canada through costs to the criminal justice 
system, but also through the economic and social impacts associated 
with having a criminal record," the report states.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom