cannabisnews.com: Decriminalize Pot: Alliance MP Decriminalize Pot: Alliance MP Posted by FoM on January 23, 2002 at 08:24:57 PT By Katie Chalmers, Winnipeg Sun Source: Winnipeg Sun Alliance MP Keith Martin is coming to Winnipeg to drum up support for his bill to decriminalize marijuana and he's found an unlikely host. The Fort Rouge Progressive Conservative Association is sponsoring a luncheon at the Masonic Temple, where Martin will promote Bill C-344. The bill would decriminalize possession of small amounts of cannabis and is before Parliament. The association's president, Norm Elson, said decriminalization of cannabis is "a big issue," -- especially in the Osborne Village area where many single people, university students and young businesspeople live. "I think you would find this would be a strong area for this kind of support -- we're the Village people," Elson said, adding 600,000 Canadians have criminal records for marijuana possession. "Certainly a portion of that is Manitobans. We're not pure here." Elson said the provincial association has no official position on the decriminalization of cannabis. Provincial Tory Leader Stuart Murray also declined to take a stand on decriminalization yesterday, saying the issue is a federal concern. "It's not an issue ever brought to my attention," Murray said. Elson said he expects people will be surprised Conservatives are hosting an Alliance speaker. But a crossover between provincial Tory and federal Alliance supporters is not unusual, he said. In the past, Martin has said decriminalizing cannabis would save money on enforcement and in the courts. In his bill, Martin suggests fines of $200 for the first offence, $500 for the second and $1,000 for additional offences. ANOTHER 'EVIL' IN SOCIETY The president of the Manitoba Compassion Club, Geoff Hughes, said he was surprised Tories are playing a role in the event. The 19-member club dispenses marijuana -- without government approval -- to people with serious illnesses. "I can't believe I'm supporting something the PCs are doing," Hughes joked. Hughes said Martin's bill should go one step further and make marijuana use legal. Sgt. Jeff Bellingham, of the Winnipeg police drug unit, said decriminalization of marijuana would create another "evil in society." "We have home invasions, thefts, deterioration in family, school work, personal relationships -- all results of marijuana," said Bellingham. Note: Martin will address Fort Rouge Tories.Source: Winnipeg Sun (CN MB) Author: Katie Chalmers, Winnipeg SunPublished: Wednesday, January 23, 2002Copyright: 2002 Canoe Limited Partnership Contact: editor wpgsun.com Website: http://www.fyiwinnipeg.com/winsun.shtmlRelated Articles & Web Sites:FTE's Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmMajority of MPs Support Decriminalizing Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11291.shtmlPot Bill Won't Survive Votehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11287.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by Hope on January 23, 2002 at 20:05:21 PT home invasions, thefts, deterioration in family... I don't know how old Sgt. Bellingham is, but as someone who has been around for a number of years and, yes, even before marijuana use became as prevalent and popular as it is, "home invasions, thefts, deterioration in family, school work, and personal relationships...", along with a host of other problems of mankind, have been around a long, long time and didn't just suddenly appear or even increase with the appearance of increased marijuana use. To hear these guys tell it, these problems have only been introduced to society with the increase in popularity of recreational drug use. Perhaps, to some, these social problems may have appeared to increase, but logically, that is because the population has increased signifigantly and it's grown rather more politically correct to be nosing in everybody else's private business as well as airing one's own private affairs in public and everywhere and anywhere someone is willing or forced to listen. This tact of blaming all our social problems on a drug has just basically replaced the popularity of blaming all our social problems on whatever the last big bug a boo was. This deception is especially handy to prohibitionists in their effortsto block all possible attempts at common sense, rational thinking, and real problem solving. People who try to make you think that these problems are new and were introduced by marijuana or drug use are hysteria producing, lying, deceiving, logic defying, self deluding, power maniacs who just are looking for any and every excuse they can find or create to control, confound, and belittle their fellow man.End of rant. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by TroutMask on January 23, 2002 at 09:03:23 PT How about some logic??? "We have home invasions, thefts, deterioration in family, school work, personal relationships -- all results of marijuana," said Bellingham.The statement would be true if it read:We have home invasions, thefts, deterioration in family, school work, personal relationships -- all results of marijuana PROHIBITION.How many home invasions occur today due to alcohol? Hint: Zero. How many would occur if alcohol was worth it's weight in gold like marijuana is today? Hint: Remember the alcohol bootleggers, the highjacking of alcohol delivery trucks, the killing over alcohol during alcohol prohibition.Duh!-TM [ Post Comment ] Post Comment