cannabisnews.com: Legalizing Pot Not Such a Bad Idea Legalizing Pot Not Such a Bad Idea Posted by CN Staff on September 10, 2002 at 20:38:36 PT Editorial Source: Meadow Lake Progress Right on, dude...looks like the feds are pondering the legalization of marijuana. A Senate committee has unanimously called for the legalization of the drug across the country. The idea has sparked debate across Canada and has stirred criticism from the United States. The Senate committee also wants government-licensed production and sale of the drug to any Canadian over the age of 16. In it's 600-page report, the committee concludes that dope is not harmful and should be readily available to cannibis consumers. Purchasing the drug, if it is legalized, would be as easy as purchasing tobacco or alcohol products. Marijuana has been banned in Canada since 1923.While the Senate committee is stoked about the idea of making pot legal, other organizations are not so thrilled.The Canadian Police Association is calling the plan "a back-to-school gift for drug pushers."Hardly. By legalizing pot, the senate is not encouraging it's use. Legalization is not an endorsement of it's use.It is a way of opening up some doors to accept a soft drug which does nothing more than make the user see some really cool psychadelic colours. Marijuana is not nearly as serious as heroin, for example. With dope, the user does not share needles, does not risk disease, and does not ruin their life. Hence the classification soft drug...recreational use.Domestic and international experts, along with regular Canadians have said that imposing criminal records on users is unacceptable, at least in this country. The attraction to the drug is that it's illegal. Maybe this attraction is from the 12 to 17 year olds of our society. Without accusing or singling out teens, the opportunity for them to try a soft drug without harsh consequences makes it appealing. It should also be noted that nearly two million Canadians over the age of 18 use cannibis on a daily basis. That number is more than double the number of teens using the drug in the same frequency. Liberal Senator Colin Kenny said making pot legal will actually result in the decreased use of marijuana. Why? Because the risk of being caught is taken away. The thrill of doing something illegal disappears.Prosecuting drug charges in Canada costs close to $1.5 billion annually, and nearly one third of those charges involve marijuana.The committee's chair, Progressive Conservative Senator Pierre Claude Nolin, said it's time to steer away from a "regime where we stick our heads in the sand, like ostriches. We are aware that several hundred thousand Canadians are using cannibis. The hipocrisy of the current system is not the way to go."The committee formed it's opinion after more than two years of studying drug policy and interviewing 234 witnesses across Canada and around the world.As a case-in-point, cannibis is technically illegal in Holland, but is tolerated. More than 450 coffeeshops in Amsterdam offer a safe place to sit down, chill out and smoke up. The Dutch are known for their tolerance, and this is no different. The coffeeshops offer a place to buy and use soft drugs, because they separate the soft drug users from the hard drug dealers. In any coffeeshop you can roll a joint, smoke a pipe or get blitzed from a bong. They too are regulated by the government on a local level, which requires them to obtain a license and pay taxes.The whole idea behind the Dutch tolerance of marijuana, amongst other things, is that recreational use of pot is less harmful to society than persecution and incarceration. It's time we took a lesson from the fine folks over in Holland.Legalization of this soft, harmless drug is a smart move by the Senate. It is a simple, liberal, with-the-times move that allows those who are sick easier access to a drug which will ease their pain. Those who want to get blitzed for fun can do so. No big deal. At least they aren't costing the health care system billions of dollars in treatment of lung cancer, or addiction to alcohol.I.R.Source: Meadow Lake Progress (CN SN)Published: Week of September 8, 2002Copyright: 2002 Meadow Lake ProgressContact: editor meadowlakeprogress.comWebsite: http://www.bowesnet.com/mlprogress/Related Articles:Canadian Panel Backs Legalizing Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14010.shtmlCanadian Senate Panel Calls For Legalization http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13998.shtmlSenators Want Pot Legalizedhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13993.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by qqqq on September 15, 2002 at 04:02:07 PT ...Phasetheory... ..Once again,,your somewhat abrupt tendency to bolster the the aspects that sway towards ;"conservative" ideaology,,,,,,astounds me........I find it sorta curious,, that you so proudly,and obviously,seem to ride the bandwagon!!(?)....... I respect and appreciate your views,no matter what they are,,but what is it with this apparent defense of certain political persuasions???.....inquiring minds want to know.... [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by phasetheory on September 15, 2002 at 03:46:53 PT One correction This is not a liberal plan, it is conservative. Less government, lower taxes, personal responsibility. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment