There is a green leafy plant that is becoming more and more common in Canada these days. When I do a certain thing with it, my head starts to spin and I feel light-headed. I never hurt anybody or anything when I'm in this state, apart from maybe myself. Some people get upset when I talk about it afterwards. It usually causes me to sit immobile, staring blankly at something, often a newspaper. People try to get my attention, and ask what's wrong with me. I tell them say "Whoa, I was just thinking about marijuana laws."

The federal government is planning to decriminalize marijuana use. Under the new plan, police officers would issue fines for possession of up to 15 grams, and a ticket or a criminal charge for possession of between 15 and 30 grams. The maximum sentence for illegal growers would jump from seven years in prison to fourteen. Ottawa plans to set aside $245 million over five years to increase law enforcement and support education, research, information, and treatment programs with the goal of reducing illicit drug use.

Many people are upset about this. From what I've read, the majority of complaints are that this new plan will result in more people using marijuana and growing it. I have heard little about any other consequence like reduced worker productivity, increased violence (unlikely in pot smokers), increased unemployment, increased school drop-outs, increased medical expenditures, or other possible social fall-outs.

So my question is… "so what"? So there will be more potheads out there. They're harmless. In fact, many, many people smoke pot, and hide it from those who would condemn them, such as employers and family. And the employers and family go right on employing and being family. Imagine, a weed-smoker, right under your nose, and you don't know it!

That's how much damage is caused by many users of the electric lettuce. What's ironic is that many people who complain about pot are cigarette smokers. Now that's damage. Which employee is less concentrated on their work, the pot-smoker returned from a coffee-break rendez-vous with "Uncle Herb" or the tobacco smoker suffering from withdrawal before a break and disturbing other workers with constant coughing caused by chronic emphysema?

Do anti-pot parents boycott St. Albert restaurants which allow smoking in the presence of minors? If you're concerned about your children smoking the wacky tabaccy, worry about your child, not about the law. The law is meant to protect citizens, not raise them. Talk to your children about drugs, beyond "Bad people use them." Be an active part of your child's life, so that the protagonists of films like "Up in Smoke", "Half-Baked", and "Friday" don't look so cool.

Another irony is that people feed their own children "food" from McDonald's. To me, it looks like the parent is the dealer in that situation. Did you know that Kraft is owned by one of the world's biggest tobacco companies? Buy Kraft Dinner, and you're funding tobacco marketing aimed at your child. (The company is called Altia; Phillip Morris changed their name to escape escalating anti-smoking criticism. See www.foodanddrinkeurope.com/news/brief.asp?page=10)

Also, how many unhealthy non-illicit things are trafficked by violent gangs? Alcohol? Cigarettes? Pornography? Slot machines? Big Macs?

All in all, anti-pot sentiments seem to stem solely from fear and prejudice. But a little bit of clear thinking can show that there are a lot worse substances in our country which are completely legal, such as alcohol, nicotine, and anti-depressants (prozacspotlight.org). Then again, it's hard to use your head when your lungs and liver don't work.