"Dumb-Ass Stupid"

That's how Canadian Peter Blaikie describes mandatory minimums in this excellent opinion editorial from Montreal's The Gazette.

So, ummm, does that make Americans "dumb-ass stupid" for continuing to use these one-size-fits-all-but-doesn't-make-us-safer-while-costing-us-a-fortune sentences?

Alas, Canada is still considering expanding its mandatory minimums and following the U.S.'s example of unwise, expensive, unjust sentencing.  See if this description of Canada's proposed mandatory minimums rings any bells:

One comical feature of this legislation is that the length of the mandatory prison sentence will depend on the number of marijuana plants grown, and whether they are grown in a prison or near a school. One can easily imagine the following comments by an arresting officer: “Pothead, if you had grown 197 plants instead of 203, and more than 150 yards from the local school, you would be spending far less time in jail.” Dumb-ass stupid.

Ahem.  Yes, that would be the U.S. system, in a nutshell.

Canada, we beg you -- for your own good -- just say no to this nonsense.