cannabisnews.com: Smoke of Marijuana Battle Lingers 





Smoke of Marijuana Battle Lingers 
Posted by CN Staff on July 17, 2002 at 20:20:59 PT
By Eric Volmers, Mercury Staff
Source: Guelph Mercury 
Derek Wildfong is an activist by default. The owner of Hemp Asylum on Macdonell Street considers himself a businessman first, but admits his store's focus on selling marijuana-related paraphernalia often puts him at the centre of the prickly debate over whether using the drug should be decriminalized. For seven years, Wildfong has sold a variety of colourful pipes and literature about cannabis use, and become an advocate in Guelph for the decriminalization of pot. 
The debate resurfaced this week when Justice Minister Martin Cauchon announced Canada may follow Britain's lead in decriminalizing marijuana use, by making simple possession of small amounts a ticketing offence. Chauchon's suggestion was met with criticism by local police officials and MP Brenda Chamberlain. Wildfong, meanwhile, sees it as cause for cautious optimism. "Sure, I'm hopeful it will happen," Wildfong said. "Personally, it's been a long time since I partook in that sort of thing. But for the people I know, it's important." Wildfong blames what he sees as lingering myths about marijuana use for its vilification by law enforcement agencies and politicians. He said his hope that Cauchon's suggestion becomes reality is based on principle, not self-preservation in any business sense. He said the idea that marijuana use would skyrocket after decriminalization is not based on fact. "I don't think my business would change," he said. "They didn't find any change in Holland (after decriminalization). There has been a lot of disinformation about marijuana and that's what keeps people scared. It's so ingrained. "There's this idea that you will smoke a joint and then try heroin. That's not going to happen. But if you have six generations of people being told the sky is green, it's tough to change that perception." It's a common argument by promoters of cannabis use. Activist Robin Ellins said politicians and police insist on lumping marijuana in with harder drugs, such as heroin and cocaine. "It's not in the same category," said Ellins, who sells cannabis literature, smoking accessories and hemp fashions at his downtown Toronto shop, Friendly Stranger. "Police are worried about keeping jobs and having something to do. A lot of their time is spent cracking down on people smoking pot in places they shouldn't be." As for Cauchon's suggestion, Ellins said it doesn't go far enough. Canada needs to adopt a policy similar to ones in Switzerland and Holland, where marijuana use has been decriminalized, regulated and taxed, he said. "Right now it's a forbidden fruit," said Ellins. "More want to try it when they are younger. But if they set up some sort of distribution the demand goes down." Guelph Police Deputy Chief Don Porterfield disagrees. He said the force is opposed to decriminalizing possession. "The concern the police have is legalization is going to increase use," he said. While marijuana is typically considered a "harmless" drug, Porterfield said there are crimes associated with its use, including impaired driving. "It creates a number of collateral problems for the police," he said. "Any step in that direction would have to be undertaken with a great deal of caution." Porterfield said Guelph Police drug officers are primarily focused on curtailing marijuana growing operations, and targeting those involved in the distribution and use of more serious drugs. That includes battling the increased presence in Guelph of crack cocaine. "Practically speaking that's where we focus our enforcement," Porterfield said. He conceded issuing tickets for pot possession may put fewer restrictions on officers than treating such matters as criminal cases, which involves preparing materials for the federal prosecutor and also going to court if the accused pleads not guilty. However, Porterfield added even under a ticketing system the accused still would likely have the right to plead not guilty, as motorists currently can do with traffic tickets. When contacted at her office Tuesday, Guelph-Wellington MP Brenda Chamberlain said she also opposes decriminalization of marijuana. She rejects the idea that marijuana is "harmless" and said she believes its use can lead people to harder drugs. Source: Guelph Mercury (CN ON)Author: Eric Volmers, Mercury StaffPublished: Wednesday, July 17, 2002Copyright: 2002 Guelph Mercury Newspapers LimitedContact: editor guelphmercury.comWebsite: http://www.guelphmercury.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmCauchon Admits He Smoked Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13442.shtmlCauchon Might Relax Canada's Marijuana Laws http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13397.shtmlIn Canada, Marijuana Possession is Still Illegal http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13376.shtml 
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