cannabisnews.com: Canada's Pot Policy Under Fire from U.S.





Canada's Pot Policy Under Fire from U.S.
Posted by CN Staff on September 13, 2002 at 06:55:45 PT
By Graeme Smith
Source: Globe and Mail 
Detroit -- Canada's marijuana policy is flawed by a lack of information and outright lies, according to the highest-ranking drug official in the United States.John Walters, director of U.S. national drug-control policy, sharply criticized Ottawa yesterday for allowing ill people to smoke pot and for considering relaxed antimarijuana laws.
Mr. Walters said at a Detroit news conference that Canada has done insufficient research, so it cannot justify liberalizing its cannabis policy."I asked the ministers in Canada when I was there: What do you estimate to be the level of use in Canada, and what are the trends? What do you estimate to be the level of dependency and the need for treatment and the trends?"The answer is that they don't know. They don't have surveys. They do not have the data," Mr. Walters said."In our view of working policy, you don't make a major step that involves these kinds of dangers without first telling the people what the danger is, what the trends are and what the problems are."Mr. Walters suggested that policymakers in Canada are naive to be persuaded of marijuana's medical benefits."The claim that medical marijuana is an efficacious medicine is a lie."It is used by people who want to legalize marijuana, cynically."He acknowledged that the United States is considering tighter border security -- recently strengthened to handle terrorist threats -- if Canada relaxes its antimarijuana laws."What happens in Canada as a sovereign nation -- as long as it stays in Canada -- is Canada's business," Mr. Walters said."The problem today is that Canadian production of high-potency marijuana in British Columbia is a major source of marijuana in the United States . . . and it's spreading. Just like cocaine, shipped up from Mexico."Mr. Walters repeatedly said that the U.S. prohibition on marijuana is based on scientific evidence, and he attacked studies that suggest cannabis can relieve symptoms of some illnesses.He emphasized that U.S. scientists have done more research into the effects of the drug than have their colleagues in Canada."We have the most powerful, successful and sophisticated medical institutions in the history of humankind."The news conference was Mr. Walters's only public appearance as he meets with law-enforcement officials, government leaders and drug-prevention and treatment advocates from both sides of the border. Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)Author: Graeme SmithPublished: Friday, September 13, 2002 – Print Edition, Page A7Copyright: 2002 The Globe and Mail CompanyContact: letters globeandmail.caWebsite: http://www.globeandmail.ca/Related Articles:Drug Czar's Visit Will Include Pot Issuehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14092.shtmlLegal Pot in Canada Would Mean Tighter Bordershttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14090.shtmlWindsor Could Be Spot for Legal Pot http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14020.shtmlLegalize Marijuana, Senate Committee Sayshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13989.shtml
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Comment #6 posted by dddd on September 15, 2002 at 03:48:02 PT
Right On Phasetheory!!
..Well Said!.....Good to see you!......dddd
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Comment #5 posted by phasetheory on September 15, 2002 at 03:32:24 PT
Really...
Let me get this right. Every single government study done on marijuana, and what it's legal status should be, (including America), recomended decriminalization or legalization. But even with 8 government studies, years of research... a plant that has never killed anyone and has never given anyone lung cancer, ever... is dangerous to our society???
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Comment #4 posted by Sam Adams on September 13, 2002 at 07:54:09 PT
trends?
"I asked the ministers in Canada when I was there: What do you estimate to be the level of use in Canada, and what are the trends? What do you estimate to be the level of dependency and the need for treatment and the trends?"I think the Canadians know perfectly well what the "trend" is. The trend is that lying prohibitionists are on their way OUT. Violent hypocrisy went out of style up there back in the 90's.
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Comment #3 posted by goneposthole on September 13, 2002 at 07:47:20 PT
he can't think
No use asking questions when his brain has been pithed.
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Comment #2 posted by Dark Star on September 13, 2002 at 07:39:14 PT
More Questions for Walters
Did you so much as read the Canadian Senate Report?Is it in your job description to lie about the motives and intent of foreign legislators are better educated on the subject than you?How would you respond if foreign bureaucrats disparaged the American administration in this manner?Have you emulated the work of Joseph Goebbels?Do you care that the USA is the most feared and despised nation on earth at this time?What are you planning for your next job?
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Comment #1 posted by Dark Star on September 13, 2002 at 07:25:11 PT
Question for Walters
At what level of scientific evidence, Sir, would you acknowledge that cannabis does have medical use?I submit the answer is that you would not change your mind irrespective of any submitted evidence, whether it be patient claims, the findings of any government commission, or any number of scientific studies.
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