cannabisnews.com: Editorial: Why, Not How Editorial: Why, Not How Posted by CN Staff on August 20, 2002 at 12:59:49 PT Editorial Source: Winnipeg Free Press Federal bureaucrats responsible for a marijuana-grow operation in an abandoned Flin Flon mine believe they might now have two sources of good weed. That's a big maybe. Anyone sick enough to hold a federal licence allowing them to personally use pot to ease their symptoms or chronic pain should not heave a sigh of relief. Help is not on its way; the strains accepted as pure and useful must now undergo clinical trials. All of this -- all this time and extraordinary expense, both in money and unrelieved human suffering -- to control a plant, the use of which is less harmful than the use of alcohol and tobacco. Ottawa convinced itself it alone could build better marijuana after an Ontario court ordered it to change the law on use of medical marijuana or see it struck down as unconstitutional. The decision was backed by reams of expert opinion which have, over time, painted marijuana not only as a beneficial medicine but also as an benign recreational drug. A number of bodies have questioned the fairness and usefulness of pot's criminalization. Most recently, a Senate committee concluded: Marijuana carries no serious threat of dependence to users; pot is not a so-called "gateway" drug that leads to harder substances; and there are few, undetermined health risks. Marijuana does, however, show promise for use for relief of pain and symptoms for people suffering with terminal sickness or other illnesses, such as AIDS and multiple sclerosis. Canada has long batted around the logic of keeping this relatively harmless drug illegal. Its decision to control sick people's access to marijuana has only prolonged their suffering. A more reasonable solution would have freed sick people to continue to find their own supplier of dependable weed, but that would have meant giving tacit sanction to growers producing an illegal substance. In an attempt to defend a law increasingly indefensible, the federal government is setting sick people up for protracted suffering made worse by a faint hope they may get access to the official inventory before disease wins out. Marijuana laws result in convictions of thousands each year for reasons that long ago ceased to make sense. Until pot possession laws, in the very least, are liberalized, the sick will continue to suffer and recreational users will buy from risky suppliers and be penalized for enjoying a substance less harmful than tobacco and alcohol, which are regulated and widely available. Canada should stop musing on the "whys" of decriminalizing or legalizing pot, and focus on the "hows". Newshawk: puff_tuffSource: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)Published: August 20, 2002Copyright: 2002 Winnipeg Free PressContact: letters freepress.mb.caWebsite: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/Related Articles:Ottawa Shelves Medicinal Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13807.shtmlMcLellan Admits Med Pot Makes Her Uncomfortablehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13804.shtmlSeized Pot Packs Punch, Ottawa Finds http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13797.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #18 posted by goneposthole on August 21, 2002 at 05:00:20 PT I read at Mapinc (about a year ago) that it is believed there is more than 200 grow operations in and around Winnipeg. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by goneposthole on August 21, 2002 at 04:54:28 PT Orange County, California A mid-western place. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by BGreen on August 21, 2002 at 00:37:38 PT You take me too literally, canaman I used your comment as a basis to state my displeasure with the evil men I mentioned, made even more personal by my close proximity to them. I even walked off stage one time when Ashcroft came up to sing. There was NO WAY I was going to bastardize my talent for that SOB. Your comment served as the "straight line" for me to deliver my comment with a comic twist. It's just my personality. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by canaman on August 20, 2002 at 23:20:58 PT I wasn't thinking about what I'd done BGreen, when I typed mid-west. You know how Missouri when it was a territory was considered 'way out west'? Well sometimes I think the same way but in reverse. Growing up within 10 miles of the Pacific Ocean just about everywhere is 'back east'. Sometimes I forget where the Mid-west begins. Going east that is. I mean where does it start? If you look at a altlas Colorado (which I believe is generally considered a western state) it's eastern border is west of Nebraska's eastern border. Isn't Nebraska a mid-west state? Then you got North and South Dakota ganging up with Nebraska (same longitude east). Where are the people in the eastern 1/4 of Colorado? West or Mid-west? Are these people as confused as I am? To address my reference to the Mid-west in comment #7 I was refering to North and South Dakota which I'm still a little confused as to where they fit in the grand scheme. I probably should of stuck with 'prairies'. Damn I should've know you'd call me on it! ;-)Is it my imagination or is your disclaimer getting smaller......like in read the fine print? [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by Industrial Strength on August 20, 2002 at 23:12:27 PT What kind of prize money are we talking about here? Will this open up any endorsment contracts? "Adidas, the funny sneaker!" I'd break my wrist even throwing a jab at Quadruple Q. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by MDG on August 20, 2002 at 23:03:28 PT Indy... I was just about to mention that BGreen is a real contender for dddd's Heavyweight Humor title with his "...are no joke" disclaimer, but you delivered a light-hearted knock-out punch with the "folks".Gambatte kudasai Oh yeah, the news, harumph...yes, Canada should stop musing. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by Industrial Strength on August 20, 2002 at 22:56:35 PT five Wow, five uses of the word "folk" in one post. A personal best! [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Industrial Strength on August 20, 2002 at 22:55:03 PT the people are "conservative" but they are Canadian conservatives. It's hard to find even country folk that care about marijuana (believe me on this, my nearest neighbor is literally a mile away). I estimate the breakdown would be much the same as city folk. I'm not saying they are activists, they just don't care. I find small town folk to be alot more closed minded than full out country folk. Small town folk are something else altogether.I don't think much is comparable between the American midwest and Canadian praries besides agriculture. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by BGreen on August 20, 2002 at 21:40:36 PT BIG difference, canaman I come from the midwest, Missouri to be specific. In the words of country singer Alan Jackson, 'Where I Come From' there's John Ashcroft from Springfield, Missouri, right to the south we have the beautiful hills and streams of Arkansas, which gave us Asa Hutchinson and Bill Clinton, to the west is Kansas, which spewed forth Bob Dole, and to the southeast is Tennessee, the land of Al Gore.It ain't NOTHIN' like Canada.ALTERNATE DISCAIMER:This post was made "tongue in cheek." I can't use my standard disclaimer because, although it was said jokingly, these evil people are NO JOKE. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by canaman on August 20, 2002 at 18:28:34 PT liberal vs. conservative In the prairie cities i've spent time in Calgary, Edmonton, Regina and Saskatoon each has it's 'liberal' neighbourhoods. But I find generally the wheat provinces to be conservative at least compared to the coastal provinces. Having spent quite alot of time in the 'bush' and farm country I find the small town canucks about as 'conservative' as country folk anywhere. One thing I have noticed is attitudes are changing especially towards hemp as far as farmers are concerned. But I'd compare the praires in Canada to the mid-west in the U.S. generally. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Dan B on August 20, 2002 at 18:08:33 PT On "Conservative" Manitoba I think that Dr. Russo was speaking in relative terms. That is, relative to, say, British Columbia, Manitoba is actually quite conservative. Butneither province can match the conservatism found in some states here in the U.S.--like Texas, for example.Dan B [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by goneposthole on August 20, 2002 at 17:54:56 PT Osborne District The Osborne District of Winnipeg (Muddy Water) is a 'liberal' neighborhood. The River City Brewery is located there and you can enjoy hemp ale from the tap. It's great. Winnipeg is a great city. Well worth visiting.Medical cannabis is legal there and is advertised as such.Winnie the Pooh got his name from Winnipeg. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Industrial Strength on August 20, 2002 at 14:04:25 PT Conservative I haven't found Manitoba to be that conservative in general, either. Winnipeg, the largest city, the capital city, has an openly gay mayor. The left leaning NDP (New Democratic Party) is the elected provincial party. I really like Manitoba. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on August 20, 2002 at 13:26:52 PT Dr. Russo I sure hope they do what they should! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Industrial Strength on August 20, 2002 at 13:19:29 PT conservative I haven't found Manitoba to be very "conservative" (in the modern, basterdized sense of the word) when it comes to marijuana. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Ethan Russo MD on August 20, 2002 at 13:16:05 PT: There You Go This is an editorial from a conservative province. The battle for the hearts and minds of Canada on this issue is lost.Basically, it is now up to the court to do the right thing, and strike down prohibition. They said they would. Now they must. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment