Pubdate: Tue, 16 Jun 2015 Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB) Copyright: 2015 Winnipeg Free Press Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/send_a_letter Website: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502 Page: A8 MR. HARPER'S MARIJUANA PIPE DREAM THE Harper government is quickly becoming its own satire of the mouldy propaganda that portrayed marijuana as the road to mental illness, crime and unemployment. Health Minister Rona Ambrose, for example, said last week she was shocked and "outraged" after the Supreme Court of Canada ruled medical-marijuana users can consume the product in a variety of ways, not just through smoking. Of course it was ridiculous for the government to take this matter all the way to the top court when common sense made the answer obvious. Why, for God's sake, would the state insist on smoking only, when less harmful methods, such as baked goods and other products, are available? If anything is known for sure about the medical risks of marijuana, it's that smoking is not an ideal method of ingestion. Until now, however, it was the only legal way to use it for the relief it reportedly gives to those suffering from a wide list of ailments, including people receiving chemotherapy treatment for cancer or to reduce the symptoms of epilepsy. Some 40,000 Canadians are licensed to use pot for health reasons, but the number was expected to grow after it was decided last year Health Canada's approval was no longer needed. Ms. Ambrose says making it easier to use medical marijuana will only increase its use, even though a doctor's note is needed before it can be purchased. She said the court decision would also encourage young people to use marijuana because the drug would be more appealing in its non-smokable forms. It's the latest in a series of embarrassing setbacks for the government at the Supreme Court, which has blocked the Conservatives on Senate reform and forced it to rewrite Canada's prostitution laws as well as the prohibition on assisted suicide. The government's punitive and out-dated stance on marijuana, including increasing penalties for people who cultivate just six plants for personal use, seems to be based more on political considerations than health and social policy. In addition to attacking the Supreme Court, Ms. Ambrose also blamed Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau for encouraging young people to use marijuana. In fact, Mr. Trudeau has never encouraged anyone to use weed, but he has come to realize the laws against pot are doing more harm than good. There is no doubt smoking pot is not a healthy choice, but then neither are alcohol, tobacco, doughnuts and a wide range of other products that people want. The government's politicization of the debate has even turned off medical associations that refused to participate in a $6-million marijuana cessation campaign last year aimed at young people. That, despite the fact most doctors' association and medical groups believe marijuana is a health risk for young people. They simply did not want to be involved in a campaign that seemed to be more concerned about political gain than genuine health policy. The Conservatives do not want to consider the fact Canadians have grown used to the idea of pot as a benign drug when used sensibly. A survey last year showed 65 per cent of Canadians favour either legalization and taxation of the drug, or decriminalizing it in small amounts. The country under Mr. Harper has actually moved backwards and further away from Canadian opinion. As far back as 1972, an inquiry into the non-medical use of drugs recommended repealing the law against possession and cultivation for personal use. Separate committees of the House and Senate also recommended a more liberal approach. Even the Organization of American States has recommended legalization. For ideological and political reasons, however, the Conservatives are determined to end up on the wrong side of history. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt