cannabisnews.com: The Pot Debate Takes Centre Stage The Pot Debate Takes Centre Stage Posted by CN Staff on September 08, 2002 at 10:08:56 PT By Alan C. Holman Source: Guardian CN PI Canada's senators have certainly pushed the debate about marijuana laws into the spotlight. The question is whether their call for outright legalization pushes the issue so far that more modest progress on drug laws will be impossible.This week a committee chaired by Senator Pierre Claude Nolin brought in a 600-page report that compared marijuana use to alcohol consumption and proposed that marijuana be treated like alcohol ? as a controlled but legal substance. Senator Nolin's report follows up on government's apparent new comfort with cannabis. For months, Health Canada has been examining whether marijuana could be made available for medical uses. More recently, Justice Minister Martin Cauchon has speculated that government could be open to decriminalization ? not actually making pot use legal, but treating possession as a minor offence that doesn't carry a criminal record.The proposal from the Senate goes well beyond those measures, although they could not be adopted without controversy.What the senators have proposed is a shift that would completely invert Canadian drug policy. What is contraband on one day would be an endorsed consumer product in the next, conceivably to be federally regulated or even sold with a government tax stamp.That's not a policy shift that Canadians are likely to accept.It could be argued that a majority of Canadians would accept medical marijuana if it could be shown to give users a medical benefit. It could also be argued that many Canadians would agree with the idea that simply possessing marijuana is not a sufficiently destructive act to justify giving the possessor a permanent criminal record.But those steps, which have not been taken, would still be a long way from endorsement of marijuana as a consumer product.Marijuana may be accepted as a medical aid. It may be accepted as a minor legal infraction. But Canadians have given no sign that they are ready for government-sanctioned pot.The senators of the Nolin committee clearly favour relaxed marijuana laws but they have blown the chance to argue for them. Legalization, if it ever comes, will only come after a period of normalization where marijuana is permitted in very specific circumstances.By arguing for a radical change that is certain to face public rejection, senators have undermined the arguments for more modest steps like decriminalization.Note: The senators who have favoured more relaxed marijuana laws may have blown their chances of arguing for them.Source: Guardian, The (CN PI)Author: Alan C. Holman, Lead Editorial Published: September 8, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Guardian, Charlottetown Guardian Group Inc.Contact: letters chg.southam.caWebsite: http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/Related Articles:Where There's Toke ...http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14040.shtmlDon't Legalize Pot, Decriminalize It http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14032.shtmlActivists, Experts Hail Senate's Report on Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13995.shtmlLegalize Marijuana, Senate Committee Sayshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13989.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #5 posted by John Tyler on September 09, 2002 at 10:07:06 PT watch Jay Leno Jay Leno brings up cannabis regularly in his opening monologue. I would say at least twice a week. He has some funny skits usually involving Kevin, the band leader, too. They had a really funny one involving crop circles in Kevin's cannabis field. He also announces stuff that's in the news, like the Canadian thing, that usually doesn't get mentioned in the regular news. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by pokesmotter on September 08, 2002 at 15:29:25 PT: anyone see jay leno friday? jay made a joke about Canada's possible legalization of pot with about 1/4 of the audience cheering for it. he asked "so are you all for this?" it may seem insignificant but to me it was the first time i have seen canada's recent events hit mainstream america. slowly, america is going to have to question its own emberassing drug policy. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by The GCW on September 08, 2002 at 14:52:40 PT NOPE! NV is not saying anything about Canada's Senate news. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by The GCW on September 08, 2002 at 14:47:48 PT p4me This Canadian Senate issue, should give NV a boost, if the story hits the news paper. The more people hear this news, the more it becomes mainstreem acceptance... think?The Vegas paper endorsing 9, should be printing the Canadian Senate news... Perhaps, We can look into it...also quoted: "Canada's senators have certainly pushed the debate about marijuana laws into the spotlight." It seems they have put it in the spotlight in CANADA, but observe the lack of this news showing up in the u.s. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by p4me on September 08, 2002 at 10:40:47 PT Keep talking you lousy prohibitionist What is contraband on one day would be an endorsed consumer product in the next, conceivably to be federally regulated or even sold with a government tax stamp. Well one day back in 1937 marijuana was extremely legal and then the next day it would get people thrown in jail. They used not even have the tax stamps that the author worries might be coming and I feel certain will be coming. Gee, wasn't that how the prohibitionist started MJ prohibition in America- by passing a MJ Tax Act and then not selling the stamps of approval. The Act passed Congress on August 2, 1937 and was signed by Roosevelt on August 3 with about 90 seconds of debate total for both houses of Congress. Marijuana makes people do some really crazy things, but is the people that demonize it and don't use it that do the crazy things that laws are supposed to prevent. The only way prohibition is holding on is because the powers that be silenced all debate. When the debating occurs the prohibitionist that open their mouth end up looking stupid and still stay clear of the words freedom, liberty, and corruption. Keep talking you lousy prohibitionist.In the 4d4p4q question about the iniative passing in Nevada, I say it will pass. The 48-48-4 now will change because the prohibitionist have to defend an indefensible, as in invalid, position and all the talk will shake their 48 downward. Besides this is made up of people that barely have a clue and grew up with 65 years of prohibition and believe the trillion dollar lies of the WOSD. They will be reduced by dying off and we will be helped by people reaching 18. On top of that we are the motivated group and have not had this opportunity to vote. 65 years of pent-up wrongs will be addressed this November 5th in Nevada and the people will send a clear message that too much has to end. I have no doubt about it.1,2 [ Post Comment ] Post Comment