cannabisnews.com: Senators: Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em





Senators: Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em
Posted by CN Staff on September 05, 2002 at 08:36:58 PT
By Tim Naumetz
Source: Ottawa Citizen 
A Senate committee has unanimously called for the legalization of marijuana in Canada, with government licensed production and sale of the drug to any Canadian citizen over the age of 16.The proposal could lead the way to marijuana being sold in government-run stores or even corner groceries, like tobacco or wine, said Conservative Senator Pierre Claude Nolin, chairman of a special committee that conducted a two-year investigation into the use of cannabis.
Mr. Nolin and the committee's co-chairman, Liberal Senator Colin Kenny, said yesterday all inquiry members agreed more harm than good is being done by making marijuana possession a criminal offence."Whether or not an individual uses marijuana should be a personal choice that is not subject to criminal penalties," Mr. Nolin told a news conference, adding the committee believed keeping the drug illegal, but subject to non-criminal laws, would not end its production and distribution by organized crime gangs."We have come to the conclusion that, as a drug, it should be regulated by the state as much as we do for wine and beer, hence our preference for legalization over decriminalization," said Mr. Nolin.The committee also called for an amnesty for the 300,000 to 600,000 Canadians who have been convicted of possession.The amnesty could include freeing prisoners who are serving time solely for a marijuana-possession offence.They also recommended improvements to ease access to medicinal marijuana for people undergoing cancer chemotherapy or those suffering from glaucoma or chronic pain.Mr. Nolin and Mr. Kenny, however, insisted the committee does not want to promote the use of marijuana, particularly by young people. "Make no mistake, we are not endorsing cannabis use for recreational consumption," said Mr. Nolin, who called on the government to begin the process of legalization by announcing a new drug policy this fall and holding a conference of provincial governments and experts.The Canadian Police Association promptly denounced the committee's recommendations, saying Mr. Nolin and his colleagues began the study with the belief that marijuana possession should be legalized and set about to prove their case. "We are appalled, but not surprised," said David Griffin, the association's executive officer. "It (the committee report) is nothing more than a back-to-school gift for drug pushers."Mr. Griffin accused the committee of inviting testimony from groups and individuals who support the legalization of marijuana and other drugs, saying he knew of at least one group opposed to liberalizing drug laws that experienced difficulty trying to give testimony to the committee.The committee released a 600-page report detailing testimony and quoting studies it said "overwhelmingly" indicate marijuana is less harmful than alcohol and should be treated as a social and public health issue rather than a criminal matter."Domestic and international experts and Canadians from every walk of life told us loud and clear that we should not be imposing criminal records on users or unduly prohibiting personal use of cannabis," said Mr. Nolin.The report said as far as cannabis is concerned, only behaviour causing demonstrable harm to others should be prohibited. The areas were illegal trafficking, selling to young people under age 16 and impaired driving. The committee estimated governments spend $300 million to $500 million annually enforcing laws against marijuana and recommended the money be redirected into drug-abuse programs, preventive health programs and border surveillance once marijuana is legalized.Suggesting law officers spend too much time and resources enforcing marijuana laws, the committee said 43 per cent of drug-related cases now are for simple possession of marijuana.Anticipating U.S. opposition to legalization in Canada, Mr. Nolin said while the White House under President George W. Bush might react negatively, views vary widely across the United States. Several states have already decriminalized marijuana, Mr. Nolin noted. He added restriction of sales to resident Canadian citizens would also help curb smuggling to the U.S.It found Canada has one of the highest rates of cannabis use among youth in the world, with 225,000 young people in the 12-17 age group using the drug daily. About one million youths in the same age bracket have used cannabis in the previous year, the report said.Among adults, about two million Canadians over age 18 have used cannabis in the past year.Justice Minister Martin Cauchon said the Senate committee recommendations would be considered and that related laws are outdated. But the government won't disclose its next move before early next year, he added."We must be able to evolve at the pace of society," Mr. Cauchon said in Quebec City. "It strikes me as unlikely that someone could have a criminal record after being arrested for simple possession. When we have legislation that's not really being enforced because it's no longer consistent with social realities, it's important for a government to look at and reshape such legislation."Health Minister Anne McLellan was reluctant to comment in detail on the Senate report because she has not yet read it. "That's actually an issue for my colleague, the minister of justice."Still, she said she spoke briefly yesterday morning with Mr. Nolin about the recommendations that pertain to her department. Among those are recommendations about the work of the Centre for Substance Abuse."I thanked him for the heads-up. I reassured him that we will take the report very seriously."Ms. McLellan noted there will be another report about marijuana coming from a House of Commons committee that "may also help inform our future directions.""But I think the work that the Senate has done is very important. It's thorough."Ms. McLellan also refused to be drawn into discussions over whether the Senate committee is correct in saying smoking marijuana is less dangerous than drinking alcohol."I don't know the basis on which they make those statements. I guess what I can say as minister of health is that probably smoking is dangerous for your health. And quite clearly drinking in anything other than moderation is dangerous for your health. I will certainly go that far."MP Keith Martin of the Canadian Alliance, a medical doctor, called the report an important step in reforming drug laws, but said it should have gone for decriminalization, not legalization."Decriminalization will decrease pot use, unlike full legalization, which will only serve to make Canada an even greater haven for organized crime," Dr. Martin said.The report said even though legalization of marijuana would likely lead to an initial increase in consumption, use would later drop as interest wanes and new drug prevention programs are established.Mr. Kenny said the mystique of illicit drugs contributes to marijuana consumption among teenagers and that would be eliminated with legalization, also contributing to a drop in use.Despite the negative health effects of drug use, the government should not be in the business of controlling human actions such as cannabis consumption, the committee said."We might wish for a drug-free world, fewer smokers or alcoholics or less prescription drug dependency, but we all know that we shall never be able to eliminate these problems," the report said. "More importantly, we should not opt to criminalize them."The committee estimated 100,000 Canadians over the age of 16 can be considered at-risk users, which means they consume up to one gram of marijuana daily and are at risk of damaging their cognitive ability or respiratory systems. The committee said it concluded, on the basis of research it reviewed, that cannabis itself is not a cause of delinquency and crime and that cannabis is not a cause of violence. The report said that when cannabis was first made illegal in Canada in 1923, few people even knew about the drug."There was no debate in Parliament, no justification. In fact, many members did not even know what cannabis was," said Mr. Nolin, adding the health minister of the day was among those ignorant of the drug.The Canadian Police Association referred to studies it has cited earlier, including during testimony to the committee, that all drugs can be harmful. "Drugs are not dangerous because they are illegal; drugs are illegal because they are dangerous," said Mr. Griffin, suggesting the senators were "playing scientist" and ignored countless studies that demonstrate the harmful effects of marijuana. Mr. Griffin added the association believes powerful lobbies, which stand to benefit commercially from the legal distribution and sale of marijuana, is behind the push for drug legalization. He did not identify the groups. The Canadian Centre against Alcohol and Drugs also condemned the report.Other senators on the committee were Liberal Tommy Banks, Conservative Pat Carney, Liberal Shirley Maheu and Conservative Eileen Rossiter. Liberal leader in the Senate Sharon Carstairs and Conservative Senate leader John Lynch-Staunton were ex-officio members of the committee.Note: Committee says it's time to legalize cannabis use in Canada. Tim Naumetz, with files from Mark Kennedy The Ottawa Citizen with files from Citizen News Services. Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)Author: Tim NaumetzPublished: Thursday, September 05, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Ottawa Citizen Contact: letters thecitizen.southam.caWebsite: http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/Related Articles & Web Sites:Senate Committee On Illegal Drugs Videohttp://www.pot-tv.net/ram/pottvshowse1501.ramPot-TV News - September 4, 2002http://www.pot-tv.net/ram/pottvshowse1500.ramTaking The High Roadhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13996.shtmlActivists, Experts Hail Senate's Report on Pot http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13995.shtml
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Comment #6 posted by kaptinemo on September 05, 2002 at 10:52:58 PT:
Hope, you ain't seen the half of it
In the early 1990's, there was a group of Fed and State LEOs who would get together annually at self-styled 'Good Ole Boys' cookouts and engage in profoundly racist behavior...such as issuing each other 'nigger hunting licenses'.The gatherings were shut down long ago - at least, that was what the American public was told - but the spirit of those same (and for all I know, the same) people can be found on that website.Just the very next day after 9/11, a wag on there said it would this national horror would be the best thing possible for the DEA, because now they could shamelessly plug that dealer=terrorist, and suck even deeper at the Fed money sow accordingly. Of course, they didn't put it in the same way as I just have...but the writing was quite close:from a previous posting of last year, an almost verbatim quote from said wag:12 Sep 2001, 14:09 PST, 5th Edition
"N.M. Gov. Debates Legalizing Drugs with DEA Boss, con't:Instead of screwing around with Gary Johnson Asa should be making public statements equating community drug dealers with terrorists.(Emphais mine. -k.) We all know that a good portion of drug money is going to terrorist organizations. Drug dealers and terrorists are one and the same: they both work to undermind our national security. Somebody should tell Asa to leave the debates to ONDCP and start acting like a law enforcement executive. He is missing a good media opportunity to raise the drug war issue. Terrorists and drug dealers are one and the same... or is it only the flower part of the poppy that Afghanistan ships to the U.S.???See what I mean? This is the level of mentality that you see the most of on that board. Thousands had just died. Thousands of families left without a Mother or Father. Or, God help the children, both breadwinners. How many victims were helpless pregnant women and oldsters? How many children brought along to see hat Mommy and Daddy do at this thing they majically call 'work'? How many brave, gutsy people like those cops and fire/rescue personnel (yes, for the most part, I avoid cops because of what they too often do, but you have to admit, they had the stones to go into a soon to be destroyed building in hope of finding survivors) were lost? Yet, what does this creep do? Offer suggestions for feathering his organization's nest. Swine would be insulted at the comparison...
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Comment #5 posted by Darwin on September 05, 2002 at 10:34:12 PT
They don't call it DEAth for nothing!
Yeah, I found that DEA statement totally repulsive, which is why I posted it. 
Although, I must say that not all the DEA posts are that bad. Some actually have good insight into the corruption in the white house and help you to get a better idea of waht is going on internationally.It's always good to keep an eye/ear on your opposition!
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Comment #4 posted by Hope on September 05, 2002 at 09:36:18 PT
Not a "peep" from the New York Times, yet.
TecHnoCult, I, too would like to hear Dr. Martin elaborate on that statement. Can anyone here possibly imagine what in the world he might be thinking?Darwin, that quote from the DEA site has got to be one of the most repulsive, sickening, disgusting, and offensive statements I have ever read. Is it possible for a person to live and breathe without a soul? Apparently so.
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Comment #3 posted by druid on September 05, 2002 at 09:11:35 PT:
wtf?
What is that site and who could be so callous as to say "A good part of our in-country Vietnam military force were kids we could do without anyway. We have a lot of young men today who will inevitably become future criminals. These young men can best give their lives for their country than cost us millions to incarcerate them."That is one of the most horrible things I have ever heard. I really hope the person who said this was being sarcastic.Here is a scary item from the deawatch page25 Aug 2002, 18:33 PST, 2nd EditionResults of yesterday's 24 hour Survey:1. Now that Bob Barr is out of a job should the president make the following personnel changes...Move John Walters from ONDCP to Dep'y Asst Sec'y State for Narcotics 
Move Asa Hutchinson from Administrator/Director, DEA to Director, ONDCP 
Make Bob Barr Administrator, DEAYes... 67%
No... 33%I shudder at the mere thought of it!
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Comment #2 posted by TecHnoCult on September 05, 2002 at 08:56:39 PT
I don't understand this...
"Decriminalization will decrease pot use, unlike full legalization, which will only serve to make Canada an even greater haven for organized crime," Dr. Martin said.Is this a political game, or do they really not see the stupidity in a statement like "legalizing something supports ogranized crime."? I just don't get it. Criminals don't make much money off legal products. I know for us this is obvious, but how does a doctor, that supports decriminalization, not see the obvious error in his statement?THC
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Comment #1 posted by Darwin on September 05, 2002 at 08:48:26 PT
DEAwatch qoute
Totally unrelated but a telling qoute indeed from a DEA agent.
From http://members.aol.com/deawatch/daily.htm"I fully support the president's warning that we need to go after Hussein and take over that country.History has shown us that after every World War America has grown stronger and greater and our influence around the world has multiplied many times over. Our invasion of Iraq will set in motion a global war, and one that we will ultimately benefit from in many aspects. Following our lead every nation will re-examine its problems with an adversay nation. Reaching into its bag of historic beefs nations like Israel, the Philippines, India and the European nations will attack their adversaries. When the dust finally clears all of these juinor nations will need us to stabilize their regions. This will make us even more powerful and influential.As for the human cost of any wars we will fight, I wouldn't worry about that. In Vietnam we learned that we could kill two birds with one stone. A good part of our in-country Vietnam military force were kids we could do without anyway. We have a lot of young men today who will inevitably become future criminals. These young men can best give their lives for their country than cost us millions to incarcerate them. Many who are already in prison can be given pardons in exchange for front line military service. We could clean up the drug war at the same time we eradicate potential terrorists.We should support our president, not criticize him."Anyone remember what has happened to EVERY empire as it overreached its authority? Et tu, America.
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