Experts clash on impact of new pot law on youth

Smokers take news in stride

 As the grownups bickered about the consequences, Ottawa started making good Tuesday on its promise to ease the criminal repercussions of possessing marijuana — and the kids took it all in stride. Young people across Canada celebrated the move as medical experts and academics clashed over whether decriminalization would light a fire underneath adolescent consumption rates.

"It probably will encourage it, but from what I've seen most people do it anyway," said James Copley, a 19-year-old college student who lives in the Montreal area. "I really don't think people deserve a criminal record for smoking a gram of pot one evening."

Paul Whitehead, a professor of sociology at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ont., disagreed vehemently. "It isn't possible in our society to increase the availability or the acceptability of marijuana for normal, healthy adults without increasing its acceptability and availability for children and adolescents," he said. "The consequence will be that we will have more frequent use among children and adolescents and more kids getting into trouble as a result."

On the other side of the fence were those who believe pot laws in Canada have never much discouraged the use of marijuana and aren't likely to have much of an impact when they're removed. "Cannabis consumption is already fairly prevalent amongst Canadian young people," said David Marsh, clinical director of addiction medicine at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto. "We don't think the current legislative framework works as an effective deterrent for young people using cannabis."

Under legislation introduced by Justice Minister Martin Cauchon, possession of up to 15 grams of pot — enough to roll about 15 or 20 joints — would be a minor offence punishable by a fine. Youths could face fines of up to $250 for minor possession while adults could be fined $400.

The addiction centre's study of Ontario adolescents found that 29.8 per cent of respondents in 2001 reported consuming pot during the past year, compared with a scant 12.7 per cent in 1993.

Pot even outpaced tobacco, which was used by just 23.6 per cent of the respondents, who were from Grades 7 to 12. More boys than girls — 33.7 per cent versus 26 per cent — reported using pot in the last year.

In 2001, respondents who reported selling cannabis set an all-time high of 8.3 per cent, compared with just three per cent in 1991.

Still, there's plenty of room for consumption to grow, Whitehead said. "Years of surveys have indicated that when you ask people, 'Why don't you use marijuana,' the first reason usually given is that it is unlawful."

The message from Canada's youth? Mellow out, man.

"Smoking pot is good," said 15-year-old Selia, a Montreal high school student who said she's has been using marijuana for nearly three years. Selia and her schoolmate Tesy — they refused to give their last names — both said their biggest concern about decriminalization is that it could lead to higher prices and poorer quality pot. "Of course there are consequences (from pot), but as long as you don't abuse it, you're OK."

In Vancouver, widely acknowledged as Canada's cannabis capital, the smell of weed on the street is as familiar as the aroma of hot dogs cooking on a street vendor's grill. For that city's pot-smoking denizens, the move to decriminalize was really more symbolic than anything else.

"There are always cops who are going to want to bust you, but I've never had a problem," said Alan, 19. "Maybe I was scared about getting caught in Grade 9, but generally I've always found it to be a laid-back atmosphere."

Dave, meanwhile, celebrated his 20th birthday by flaring up a joint on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery. "People think it's like crack or heroin and it's not," he said. "Smoking pot helps people like my mother, who has cancer, with chemotherapy; it helps with the pain, and now she won't have to worry about getting a criminal record for it."

In Toronto, Robin Ellins, the proprietor of "cannabis culture" shop The Friendly Stranger, said it's high time Ottawa began distinguishing between marijuana and harder, more dangerous narcotics. "The biggest thing we can do at this stage, something that should have been done all along, is inform and educate our youth about all substances," Ellins said. Suggesting pot is as dangerous as cocaine and heroin has a tendency to backfire he added. "Under the old system, somebody was told cocaine and heroin are evil, deadly substances and so is pot," he said.

"They try pot at a party and they're like, 'Wow, this isn't so bad; what are they talking about? Maybe cocaine isn't so bad either.' I think this is actually going to help when it comes to the education and awareness side level the playing field a bit."

By James McCarten
28 May 2003

http://www.canada.com/halifax/story.asp?id=0844E4C9-091C-42A1-A403-5D0C99F75BF9

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