The War On Drugs, Harper Style?

From the Globe and Mail

"The debate over whether to legalize marijuana, for example, has left an entire generation confused over whether or not pot is legal in Canada. Ladies and gentlemen, it is not," Mr. Clement said.

Think about that quote for a second.

The debate about whether to legalize something is causing doubt as to whether it's illegal? Possibly only one of Harper's ministers could make that statement. Of course, since the ministers in the Harper government are ventriloquist's dummies for ol' Stiff Steve himself, the rhetoric is nothing astounding.

Just you watch: they're going to trot out the old, groaning paraphanalia of prohibition again, I bet. Rather than re-opening debate they'd prefer to take the old "spare the rod, spoil the addict" approach?

I feel this is just the opening salvo. It's been fairly clear from the day of Harper's infliction on us that he's been itching to align our policies more closely toward the US ones.

If we work at it, we too can make our prisons even more overcrowded, clog our court systems, add disproportionate legal response to minor infractions and give the police even more bully power. Just like the emerging dystopia to our south.

I'm in no doubt as to whether or not pot's illegal. It is. I'm a responsible, hard-working, taxpaying Canadian citizen. And I'm fond of a toke or two now and again. Now could somebody either arrest me or go blow a goat? Most cops won't bother you for pot unless you're also doing something even dumber.

These people continue to think in mid-Twentieth-Century terms about Twenty-first Century problems. That needs to change. Either that, or the government does.

I'm watching very carefully to see whether they support the Safe Injection Site. By December 31st we'll all know whether this government really believes in the health and healing approach, or whether they're moralistic morons driven by contempt.

Oh, and I guarantee that some of Harper's Conservatives like a toke too.