Friday, November 29, 2013

Peter MacKay's Reasoning is Wrong, But the Result May Be Right.

RCMP corporal Ron Francis has created a problem for Justice Minister Peter MacKay.   Francis has post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, for which he smokes pot.  He has a medical exemption to possess and use marijuana.  Did I mention he's an active-duty RCMP corporal?

Peter MacKay can't get over the issue that it's legal for Cpl. Ron to toke up, even on duty.  He's seen to it that Francis hand over his uniforms and gear lest he be seen (too late, there are photos) in red serge with a doob.

I don't think there's any need to humiliate the guy but I do think that somebody suffering from PTSD likely shouldn't be around guns.  When I did my undergrad in the States, I ran into more than a few guys freshly back from the jungles of Vietnam, a couple of them with fairly severe mental health issues.  The last thing anyone in that condition should have is access to a gun.

Taking away the guy's cherished uniform, however, seems punitive.

3 comments:

Purple library guy said...

On the third hand, if more RCMP officers mellowed out from toking on the job, we might all be safer.

The Mound of Sound said...

Wait, PLG. Think about what you're saying man. They might get all giddy and start Tasering each other for giggles. (seriously, let that roll around in your brain for a minute).

CuJoYYC said...

Or …

They might get all giddy and start Tasering Harper and his cabal while walking the perp walk just for giggles.