cannabisnews.com: In Canada, Marijuana Possession is Still Illegal In Canada, Marijuana Possession is Still Illegal Posted by CN Staff on July 11, 2002 at 10:38:55 PT By Erin Anderssen Source: Globe and Mail As far as marijuana use goes, Canadian politicians have until now proven more addicted to studying the issue than to passing laws allowing citizens to more freely sample the famous B.C. bud.In Canada, it is still a criminal offence to carry marijuana on your person or hide it in your sock drawer. Get caught with up to 30 grams of weed and you're looking at a criminal record and maximum penalties of a $1,000 fine and six months in jail, though you would usually get off with a far easier sentence from a provincial-court judge. But polls have shown that about two-thirds of Canadians think the jail option in sentencing should be dropped entirely, and a majority oppose saddling those convicted of simple possession with a record. There are about 1.5 million people with such convictions; marijuana possession accounts for almost half the drug charges laid in Canada.To reconcile this apparent gap between public policy and public thinking, the politicians hold committee hearings and commission research papers.Currently, there are two parliamentary committees studying the prospect of reforming the outright prohibition of marijuana.In a recent discussion paper, the Senate committee seemed to be leaning toward decriminalization, observing that marijuana use is not proven to lead to harder drugs or crime and that, in fact, keeping it illegal exposes young people -- the main users -- to criminal elements and gives business to organized crime.At the same time, Ottawa has pushed ahead to allow medical marijuana use, handing out permission slips to several hundred terminally or chronically ill Canadians. How they get it is up to them.To date, despite busily growing in an abandoned Manitoba mine, the federal plants are reportedly struggling with quality-control issues and have yet to produce a single joint for public consumption.Complete Title: In Canada, Marijuana Possession is Still Illegal -- in Theory at LeastSource: Globe and Mail (Canada)Author: Erin AnderssenPublished: Thursday, July 11, 2002 – Page A11 Copyright: 2002 The Globe and Mail CompanyContact: letters globeandmail.caWebsite: http://www.globeandmail.ca/Related Article & Web Site:Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmPlease Smoke Pot Before You Read This Articlehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13347.shtmlCanada: The Debate Over Decriminalization http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12697.shtmlShould We Treat Pot Like Tobacco? Senators Ask http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12696.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #9 posted by John Tyler on July 11, 2002 at 13:26:37 PT Globe and Mail vote Should Canada follow Britain's lead and essentially decriminalize marijuana?No 2540 votes (24 %) Yes 7924 votes (76 %) Total Votes: 10464 as of 4:15 p.m. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on July 11, 2002 at 11:57:56 PT MikeEEEEE & Windminstrel I never thought in my wildest imagination, not all that long ago, that we had much hope but we do don't we? I wish we could solve the world's ills but if we can solve one of the world's ills then we can feel good about ourselves and in the end when it's all said and done that is what is important.We gotta have hope!!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on July 11, 2002 at 11:53:02 PT Poll: Should Smoking Marijuana Be Made Legal? Choice Votes Percent of 5404 votes Yes, it's like tobacco or alcohol. 3708 -- 69% Yes, but only for real medical needs. 784 -- 15% No, it's a dangerous drug. 912 -- 17% Vote Here: http://www.newsnet5.com/news/1551818/detail.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by MikeEEEEE on July 11, 2002 at 11:50:03 PT FoM I'd imagine the US is feeling like the Germans in WWII, when they lost Stalingrad. That loss was the turning point in the war, except for a few small victories, the Germans were in retreat there after. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Windminstrel on July 11, 2002 at 11:46:54 PT "Thanks everyone! We are winning! Slow but sure&qu I think you may be right, friend. People have discussed legalization of cannabis for a long time, but not very openly. Now that people are on the Internet they can exchange data and overcome the government's malicious propaganda. We may just win... [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on July 11, 2002 at 11:40:28 PT A Suggestion Since we have a few polls going on this thread does anyone want to gather up any polls we need to vote on and post them in this thread? It would help people who haven't voted so far and might not locate the polls on a different article because of the wonderful volume of news we have been getting the last few days?Thanks everyone! We are winning! Slow but sure! [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by ekim on July 11, 2002 at 11:36:57 PT Should Canada follow Britain's lead Poll Result --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Should Canada follow Britain's lead and essentially decriminalize marijuana?No 2296 votes (24 %) Yes 7146 votes (76 %) Total Votes: 9442 [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Richard Lake on July 11, 2002 at 11:29:32 PT: Another poll - please vote Should Canada follow Britain's lead and essentially decriminalize marijuana?No 2279 votes (24 %) Yes 7065 votes (76 %) Total Votes: 9344 Globe and Mail poll on right hand side of this webpage [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on July 11, 2002 at 11:12:48 PT Poll - Have You Smoked Marijuana in the Last Year? Current Results: Yes -- 455 votes -- (51 %) No -- 445 votes -- (49 %) http://www.ctv.ca/generic/generated/static/AMdefault.html [ Post Comment ] Post Comment