cannabisnews.com: Britain is Right To Ease Law on Pot Possession





Britain is Right To Ease Law on Pot Possession
Posted by CN Staff on July 12, 2002 at 11:05:35 PT
By Robert Howard 
Source: Hamilton Spectator 
Marijuana: Anti-drug resources needed elsewhere "What smooth pot, James!" "Yes sir. And it's available only in Britain." "Only in Britain? Pity!" Those old enough to remember the old Red Rose Tea commercials (with which we have some fun above), may have the most mixed feelings about Britain's move to essentially decriminalize marijuana possession. 
It puts a question to more than a few Canadian parents who smoked pot in their day (some of whom even inhaled): Do they want to see marijuana more available to their children? A considerable number of people who came of age in the '70s have been facing real dilemmas as their children go through their own rites of passage. We have argued before now that decriminalizing marijuana possession would be the sensible and pragmatic thing to do. The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police have urged decriminalization, as has the Canadian Medical Association Journal. The police chiefs have advocated taking marijuana possession out of the Criminal Code, saying the time and resources dedicated to investigating and prosecuting it far outweigh any legal or societal benefit. The Canadian Medical Association Journal joined the call, saying medical evidence indicates marijuana "is really quite an innocuous drug ... the harms of criminalizing marijuana use far outweigh the harms of smoking a bit of marijuana." We argued that while we did not support legalization, nor decriminalizing of trafficking, possession for personal use could be downgraded to an offence punishable by a fine. But as Britain changes its laws in quite that spirit -- police will not charge people, in most cases, who have marijuana for their own use -- some qualms resurface. Does it send mixed messages to youngsters about which drugs are OK and which are not? Does it weaken the case against so-called hard drugs? The fact is, youngsters get all sorts of mixed messages already and most figure them out far better than we give them credit for. Tobacco is the most poisonous and, in terms of numbers, most addictive and lethal substance on the market. Alcohol kills abusers -- in traffic and other ways -- every day. Both are entirely legal for adult consumption. Ecstasy or, even worse, junk masquerading as ecstasy, kills kids but is often seen as a part of the "rave scene" and not as a dangerous drug. It would send the right message if we recognized that marijuana is relatively benign when compared to other readily available drugs, both legal and illegal. Kids know hypocrisy when they see it -- we saw it in the '70s and our children are seeing it now. Decriminalization would allow police to focus resources better. It would add more credibility to our resolve against cocaine and heroin and all the acronym-labelled chemical cocktails. It is, in the end, the right thing to do. Source: Hamilton Spectator (CN ON) Author: Robert Howard Published: July 12, 2002Copyright: The Hamilton Spectator 2002Contact: letters hamiltonspectator.com Website: http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/ Related Articles & Web Site:Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmBritain To Let Pot Smokers Off Lightlyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13384.shtmlHash On The High Street http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13382.shtmlPlease Smoke Pot Before You Read This Articlehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13347.shtmlCanada: The Debate Over Decriminalization http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12697.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #6 posted by FoM on July 12, 2002 at 22:36:06 PT
I Got a Headache Thinking Too Much!
I have been reading and posting the articles about decriminalization in the UK and now maybe soon in Canada and it's the problem with the law between possession and selling that needs to be addressed and I hope in the coming days and weeks they will realize that issue needs to be addressed for decrim to work.My question is this. It says selling but does it mention growing in any of the articles? I'll look through the news tomorrow but I don't think it has mentioned growing just selling. Maybe growing will be considered possessing? Hey what do I know but maybe. Just wishful thinking I suppose.Peace everyone!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by skinglips on July 12, 2002 at 16:32:47 PT:
Class C class shmee
I am proud that cannabis will be down-graded soon on our home soil. It is a step in the direction of relaxing with a 'fat biffter' n' a cup a cha' for our nation, but why not get it all out of the way and in the open? Deal with prostitution and other drugs which affect many of our lives in more damaging ways.......oh well, i suppose it feels slightly more relaxed.....they do take their bloody time.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by John Tyler on July 12, 2002 at 13:28:42 PT
Excite Poll
Excite is currently conducting a poll on cannabis. You have to sign up on Excite to vote. However, anyone can view the results. See below.On Wednesday, the British Government moved to downgrade marijuana from a Class B to a Class C drug. According to The Associated Press, this proposal stops just short of legalization and guarantees that, "most users will get off with just a warning while police focus their enforcement efforts on harder drugs."Would you like to see a similar policy toward marijuana adopted in the United States? Yes 69% => 14401 votes No 26% => 5449 votes I'm not sure 3% => 677 votes I don't care 2% => 416 votes 
Current vote tally: 20943 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by Zero_G on July 12, 2002 at 12:11:44 PT
Also by Tom Paxton
talking vietnam pot luck blues
Words and Music by Tom PaxtonWhen I landed in Vietnam, I hardly got to see Saigon.
They shaped us up and called the roll,
And off we went on a long patrol;
Swattin' flies, swappin' lies,
Firing the odd shot here and there.The captain called a halt that night
And we had chow by the pale moonlight.
A lovely dinner they planned for us
With a taste like a seat on a crosstown bus.
Some of the veterans left theirs in the cans
For the Viet Cong to find . . .
Deadlier than a land mine.Well naturally somebody told a joke
And a couple of fellas began to smoke.
I took a whiff as a cloud rolled by
And my nose went up like an infield fly.
The captain, this blonde fella from Yale, said
"What's the matter with you baby?"Well, I may be crazy, but I think not.
I'd swear to God that I smell pot.
But who'd have pot in Vietnam?
He said, "What do you think you're sittin' on?"
These little plants, thousands of them.
Good God Almighty. . . Pastures Of Plenty!We all lit up and by and by
The whole platoon was flying high.
With a beautiful smile on the captain's face
He smelled like midnight on St. Mark's Place.
Cleaning his weapon, chanting the Hare Krishna.The moment came, as it comes to all,
When I had to answer nature's call.
I was stumbling around in a beautiful haze
When I met a little cat in black P.J.'s
Rifle, ammo-belt, B.F. Goodrich sandals.
He looked up at me and said,
"Whatsa' matta wit-choo, baby?"He said, "We're campin' down the pass
And smelled you people blowin' grass,
And since by the smell you're smokin' trash
I brought you a taste of a special stash
Straight from Uncle Ho's victory garden.
We call it Hanoi gold."So his squad and my squad settled down
And passed some lovely stuff around.
All too soon it was time to go.
The captain got on the radio. . .
"Hello, headquarters. We have met the enemy
And they have been smashed?!"Copyright 1968, 1971 by Deep Fork Music
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by Zero_G on July 12, 2002 at 12:08:18 PT
Hi folks,
I was reviewing some of the stories and comments I missed over the fourth weekend and found a discussion about an old song, Bottle of Wine.Bottle of Wine, fruit of the vine, when ya gonna let me get sober...The song was written by Tom Paxton. It's on an album "Ain't that News", along with this old gem:Buy a Gun for Your Son - and others. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by FoM on July 12, 2002 at 11:41:21 PT
Check Out This Picture!
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/020711/170/1u0gk.html
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment