DEBATE NEEDED ON DRUG LAWS

Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca MP Keith Martin has introduced a bill to
decriminalize marijuana. It's a good way to revive the forgotten
debate on Canada's drug laws but sadly little else.

If the bill were actually passed (which is unlikely) it would make two
plants or small personal amounts of pot like drinking beer on the
street - subject to a fine and a lecture from police, which is more or
less the approach now.

Decriminalization would do little to combat the real problem, namely
violent drug gangs getting rich while spreading mayhem and death close
to home. The war on drugs is an "abysmal failure," Martin says, and he
is right.

Recent high-profile busts have taken loads of cocaine, weapons and
major dealers off Greater Victoria streets. In January Canadian
military was involved in busting a submarine with seven tonnes of
cocaine heading north from South America.

But despite the hard work of law enforcement on the West Shore, across
the region and across the country, it's not hard to purchase any drug
in any urban environment.

Every successful but dangerous police bust can remove bad elements of
society for a while, but often they are cut loose with a slap on the
wrist or others just fill the niche. The harder the police squeeze,
the higher street prices go.

The end result is that illegal drugs reward those ready to use
violence and who don't fear repercussions from any law. In early
March, The Economist magazine argued eloquently the war on drugs has
been "illiberal, murderous and pointless," while legalizing all drugs
"is the least bad policy."

If talk of decriminalizing pot causes nervous hand-wringing from
politicians, police and citizens, Canada and the U.S. are probably not
ready to free the whole enchilada. But Martin is right to point out
existing laws are ineffective. Constant bloodshed on the Mainland
bears that out all too well.