cannabisnews.com: Senate Calls for Legalization of Pot Senate Calls for Legalization of Pot Posted by CN Staff on September 04, 2002 at 09:54:28 PT By The Canadian Press Source: Toronto Star Canada should legalize the use of marijuana by adults, a Senate committee recommended today. The special committee said the current system of prohibition doesn't work and should be replaced by a regulated system, perhaps like that used for alcohol. "Scientific evidence overwhelmingly indicates that cannabis is substantially less harmful than alcohol and should be treated not as a criminal issue but as a social and public health issue," said Senator Pierre Claude Nolin, the committee chair. The committee also recommended amnesty for anyone with a criminal record for possessing pot. An estimated 600,000 Canadians have been convicted of simple cannabis possession. The report follows a two year study of public policy related to marijuana. It's not clear if the committee's recommendations will ever be adopted. There is broad support in Parliament for decriminalization of marijuana, but the Liberal government has not signalled whether it will introduce a bill to do that. Note: Members also recommend purging of drug offences from police files.Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)Published: September 4, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Toronto Star Contact: lettertoed thestar.com Website: http://www.thestar.com/ Related Articles:Legalize Pot, Senate Committee Says http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13979.shtmlSenate Committee Recommends Legal Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13978.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #8 posted by mayan on September 04, 2002 at 16:58:29 PT Big Crack in the Dam... I hope the Canadian Parliament fails to act & their Supreme Court strikes down all cannabis laws as unconstitutional!!!I will be visiting one(or all) of Emery's cafes that he will set up all along the U.S./Canada border. Canada will make so much money from American tourists that Mexico will be tempted to legalize the herb also. The war on drugs is on its last leg. A big crack in the dam! [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Unknown Pleasures on September 04, 2002 at 13:40:57 PT American 'interests' are being threatened. This is undoubtetly good news... but now if you'll excuse me, I better start digging that bombshelter, my city is just a quick blitzkrieg thrust north of Montana. I am expecting some 'subtle pressure' from our dear friends down south for the Canadian government to continue to walk in line with the Grand American War Machine. If by some miracle, sanity actually makes it into law, I should think it will coincide with Ashcroft making an announcement about a potential terrorist threat brewing up north, stemming from reports of 're-grouping' Al-Queda in the polar circle. Canada is very rich in resources vital to the Reich. If we legalize, CNN will carry the headline: Canada: Just who's side are they on? Cuz you know the DEA said that drugs n' terrorism go hand in hand, so really, sending troops up north to 'assist' the Canadian people is the only logical option. While the American boys are there, they can secure those important natural assets like oil fields, lumber, and mineral deposits. So we Canadians will get 'American Security', paid with minor insignificant things like our national sovereignty. It's a good deal, and if we're nice and obidient, we might even get our own DisneyLand. ...and if not, well, Camp X-ray could use some expansion. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by The GCW on September 04, 2002 at 12:02:48 PT Exciting We are going to see it happen.Canada, has had enough. From most every spector.Canadians are unable to reject Truth like True americans.Canadians want to reject the evil empire, and should be encouraged. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by TroutMask on September 04, 2002 at 11:51:08 PT IT's getting better... Excellent! The story has finally hit the Associated Press. I find this quite encouraging:"While not binding, the report will force Prime Minister Jean Chretien's Liberal Party to explain what provisions it accepts or rejects and why."What are they going to say? Maybe: "No, wrong answer, study it some more." But I REALLY doubt it.-TM [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by p4me on September 04, 2002 at 11:21:13 PT GreenBritain- the movie I just wanted to copy two post by Nol Van Schaik at the DE messageboards concerning a documentary of the last 15 months of cannabis reform in the UK. The link to the original thread is: http://212.129.240.114/upload/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3826There are two post copied below with one f-word changed:-------------------------- Green Britain, the Video, has been denied classification !Paul sent in the video he produced, featuring the last 18 months of developments in the UK's cannabisissue, I have seen the rough cut, it is GREAT !!Now, the video does not get any classification at ALL, it seems the UK Board Tories do not want the world to see the shocking, f'ing truth about cannabis !!Disgusting !!! Inform yourself on the events around Green Britain, the Video, through their site :www.greenbritain.comThis means that people like Patman, Chris Baldwin, Local Police officers, MEP Chris Davies and many others are not allowed to speak out on the subject cannabis in public !I hope some one can make the adress of the Film Inquisition online, so we can show them how we feel... about Green Britain...GreenBritain is an independent film documentary that has chronicled the last 15 months of the cannabis debate in Britain. We intend to raise the profile of the medical marijuana patients, whose aim it is to bring an end to the prohibition of cannabis. Together with highlighting the cause of those who use Cannabis for it’s medicinal values, our documentary includes many angles of the debate; ranging from the scientific facts through to Dutch Coffee Shops, (2 of which have recently opened in England), Campaigners, police views, smoking techniques and the plant itself. The researchand footage attained over the last 15 months is significant; we are fortunate to have captured the most exciting year in Britain’s cannabis debate for over 30years, with the Government on the verge of agreeing to it’s decriminalization.--------------------------1,2 [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Dan B on September 04, 2002 at 10:55:14 PT: Canada Reigns Supreme! Now that Britain effectively backed out of its plan to legalize, it looks like our friends from Canadia will be the winners of the "Who's first to legalize?" race. It will be a greatr day indeed when this finally comes to fruition. Let's hope the rest of the Senate doesn't back away from this proposal--the only option that is both sane and workable.Dan B [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by BGreen on September 04, 2002 at 10:42:42 PT Marc Emery, too Sorry, Marc, I just got a little excited. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by BGreen on September 04, 2002 at 10:41:08 PT With the amerikan DEAth bringing its show to towns across Canada spreading terror to the Canucks like they've perpetrated against the US citizens for years, are the Canadians just going to ignore this recommendation?It's not clear if the committee's recommendations will ever be adopted. There is broad support in Parliament for decriminalization of marijuana, but the Liberal government has not signalled (sic) whether it will introduce a bill to do that.I think it's clear that people like Marc Emory are going to take this to the people on a daily basis. Terror over a substance "substantially less harmful than alcohol" perpetrated by another country?Would YOU stay silent? [ Post Comment ] Post Comment