cannabisnews.com: Government Considering Decriminalizing Marijuana Government Considering Decriminalizing Marijuana Posted by CN Staff on July 16, 2002 at 09:22:10 PT Written by CBC News Online Staff Source: CBC News Ottawa - Last week, Britain relaxed its marijuana laws so police there could focus on harder drugs. Now Canada's justice minister is hinting he's considering decriminalizing marijuana. Canadians caught with small amounts of marijuana usually face fines of about $1,000, or six months in jail and a criminal record. Martin Cauchon wants to change that. "If you look at the system we have in place, keeping it criminal is something that is not very efficient." Cauchon and others say the courts and the police are spending too much time and money on minor marijuana offences. In 2000, 30,000 Canadians were accused of possessing marijuana. Marijuana Party member Mike Curt says Ottawa should go one step further. "One of the main problems with prohibition right now is that organized crime has a foothold in the industry, and until we legalize the growth and sale of marijuana we're not going to see those problems end." Cauchon has promised to consult widely with Canadians on the issue. That will include consultation with Canada police forces. Marijuana "is the first drug kids see in school, not only secondary school, but elementary school, so there is a possibility for marijuana to be used as a stepping stone for other harder drugs," said Mike Niebudek, vice-president of the Canadian Police Association. But a Senate committee recently reported it could find no strong evidence that marijuana led to harder drugs. That committee and another from the House of Commons are scheduled to deliver reports on the issue this fall. The vice-chair of the Commons committee, Alliance MP Randy White, says Cauchon should wait to read the reports. "These are details that have to be worked out in the Commons, not for some obscure little minister trying to get political hits from the Canadian public, blurting out that he might decriminalize this." Indepth: Medical Marijuana: http://cbc.ca/news/indepth/background/medical_marijuana.htmlComplete Title: Minister Says Government Considering Decriminalizing Marijuana Possession Source: Canadian Broadcasting CorporationPublished: July 16, 2002Copyright: 2002 CBCContact: letters cbc.ca Website: http://www.cbc.ca/Related Articles & Web Sites:Marijuana Party http://www.marijuanaparty.org/Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmPot Laws Could Be Eased, Cauchon Says http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13427.shtmlMarijuana Party Denounces Cauchon's Idea http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13403.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #5 posted by Industrial Strength on July 16, 2002 at 14:13:31 PT really makes me laugh how Cretien talks about weed with this almost longing tone in his voice, as if he really wished it was around when he was young enough to try it. He doesn't demonize it at all either. I think Canada may suprise even me, a Canadian. I hope so. As for the $1000 fine, I've never heard of anyone other than people possessing serious amounts getting levied with such a steep ticket. 1/2 pound plus people. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on July 16, 2002 at 13:52:10 PT News Brief from The Canadian Press Federal Justice Minister Admits To Smoking Marijuana in his Youth Published: July 16, 2002 Copyright: The Canadian Press, 2002OTTAWA (CP) - Justice Minister Martin Cauchon acknowledged smoking marijuana in his youth Tuesday, a day after he suggested he's considering decriminalizing the illegal substance. "I'm 39 years old . . . yes, of course, I tried it," Cauchon said when asked after a cabinet meeting whether he has ever tried marijuana. "From my own experience, I can't tell you if it's harmful or not." Cauchon declined to answer further questions about his use of marijuana, saying only that he wants to see the findings of two parliamentary committees before making a decision about whether to decriminalize it. Prime Minister Jean Chretien said he has never tried to smoke dope. "I don't smoke cigarettes, and when I was young the word marijuana did not exist," he said outside the cabinet meeting Tuesday. "I didn't know. I learned about the word long after that. It was too late to try it." Cauchon is only the latest Canadian politician to admit to trying marijuana. Ontario Premier Ernie Eves, Alberta Premier Ralph Klein, former Canadian Alliance leader Stockwell Day, retiring federal NDP Leader Alexa McDonough, both the opposition leaders in Ontario, and others have acknowledged using the illegal weed, all of them saying they no longer indulge. A Commons committee and a Senate committee are each exploring changes to drug laws, including the possibility of decriminalizing marijuana. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by E_Johnson on July 16, 2002 at 09:34:54 PT But the hunters are addicted to the hunt! Marijuana Party member Mike Curt says Ottawa should go one step further. "One of the main problems with prohibition right now is that organized crime has a foothold in the industry, and until we legalize the growth and sale of marijuana we're not going to see those problems end." People are making quite a nice living now fighting these problems so why would they want to give that up?Maybe they're hooked on their exciting lives of fighting organized crime.Maybe without those bigger than life villains, the police will lose some sense of their own identity?I would hate to think that we're spending so much of our tax money helping grown men play out their adolescent fantasies of adventure.But -- how can you feel like a mythic hero without a mythic villain?American law enforcement still derives a sense of heroic identity from the takedown of Al Capone.But they were the ones who helped build him up before they took him down, by enforcing the prohibition of alcohol.All they were doing was cleaning up a problem that they themselves helped create.But look what a big fat rush they got doing it! Both ways!And that's the dangerous addiction that our law enforcement community still faces today. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on July 16, 2002 at 09:32:42 PT Many Articles on Canadian Decriminalization Issue Hi Everyone,There are many articles about Canada's Decriminalization but most of these must be snipped by Mapinc. and Cannabis News so here is the link to all the articles.http://www.canada.com/search/site/results.asp?keywords=marijuana [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by VitaminT on July 16, 2002 at 09:30:41 PT 1000 Bucks!?! To hell with what police and prosecutors are spending (taxpayer cash) $1000.00 is a lot of money for the government to STEAL from a citizen!" . . . or SIX MONTHS in JAIL" Don't get me started! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment