Pot Politics

One thing that Canadian pro- and anti-pot advocates should be able to agree on is that anyone, young people in particular, caught with marijuana shouldn't have to carry the stigma of a criminal record for life. For God's sake, even the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) backs that position.

In an editorial, the CMA pointed out that a criminal record effectively bars young people from getting jobs and opportunities, including getting into medical school. It also called the health effects of moderate use "minimal." As well, CACP advocates decriminalization, saying prosecuting people for small amounts ties up scarce resources.

The Liberals, NDP and Bloc Québécois favour decriminalization in one form or another, but in a Press Conference last Monday, one thing was evident - that Prime Minister Harper would not be the champion of the cause. Harper said the new Conservative government will drop draft legislation by the Liberals to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.

The Bill, which had alarmed law enforcement officials in Canada and the United States, died on the floor of the House of Commons after the Liberal Party lost elections in January. Under the bill, getting caught with about half an ounce or less of marijuana would have brought a citation akin to a traffic ticket, not a criminal record. While possession of marijuana would have remained illegal, the bill was intended to prevent young people from being saddled with a lifelong criminal record.

U.S. authorities worried the legislation would have weakened their efforts to curb marijuana exports from Canada, which has numerous marijuana farms, particularly in the lush Western province of British Columbia.

According to an interview with CBC, Alan Young, a law professor at York University and marijuana-legalization activist, cancelling the marijuana decriminalizing bill is an indication that Harper is trying to mend fences in the U.S, "Harper wants to mend fences with Bush," said Young, who has been involved in many of Canada's landmark marijuana cases. "I think it's a mistake for the country, and I regret that it's happening after so much work has been done."

Young also said he doesn't believe criminal laws will have any impact on consumption, "People don't really look to the criminal law to give them guidance as to what they do with their body. They look to their peers. They look to their own decisions as how they want to live their lives - the law has really had an insignificant effect on consumption patterns."

What is also interesting is that the McGill Department of Psychology received a $4-million grant last week to study the effects of cannabis on university students. Funded by the Conservative government, the grant is intended to demonstrate the negative consequences of smoking a J. What I'm thinking is that the Tories will be using this as ammunition why marijuana should not be legalized or decriminalized.

Hmmmmm...

But to think we have people in jail for only possessing small amounts for personal use, or even medicinal use... Not only do I think that money could be put to more useful things, I also think it is just plain wrong.