cannabisnews.com: Queen Noor Diplomatic on Pot Decriminalization





Queen Noor Diplomatic on Pot Decriminalization
Posted by CN Staff on September 23, 2002 at 14:11:43 PT
By Nelson Wyatt, Canadian Press 
Source: Canadian Press 
Queen Noor of Jordan slammed drug use Monday, but was overheard saying she might have been too tough on marijuana during a news conference. Noor, the roving ambassador for the Mentor Foundation which works with the United Nations and others to help implement the UN declaration on reducing the demand for drugs, was a keynote speaker at the opening of the World Forum on Drugs and Dependency.
When asked at a news conference later about her views on marijuana and plans by Canada to consider decriminalizing it, Noor said she was "not an expert on this debate." "But I would say that both illegal and legal substances are at the source of our concern and efforts at prevention, not just illegal substances," she added. Noor said tobacco and alcohol abuse sometimes exceeds the social toll taken by illegal substances, although she noted trafficking is a scourge. She then added: "So all of these drugs, including marijuana, have been associated in some fashion with violence as well as with inhibiting the development of individuals and their communities." Pausing after the comment, she remarked to an aide off-microphone: "That's pretty strong on marijuana, a bit too strong but. . . ." Noor denied in a follow-up question that she believes it would be a mistake for Canada to decriminalize the herb. "It's not a question of legality or illegality. It's a question of the damage that is done to individuals. We've seen that legal substances can be as much or in some cases more damaging to a society than the use of illegal substances." Federal Justice Minister Martin Cauchon, who also spoke at the conference, reiterated the federal government is still examining decriminalization. He said some international conventions subscribed to by Canada would make legalization unlikely. "We have to make sure as a government that whatever will take place in the future, we have to respect those commitments," he said. Cauchon said while some countries have already decriminalized pot, Canada is still studying the matter. "We have to look at that question and take into consideration the overall situation, in the sense that there's a question of public health involved." The World Forum on Drugs and Dependencies, which runs until Friday, is bringing together some 700 panelists and 3,000 delegates from 70 countries to look at dependence on substances including drugs, alcohol, gambling and tobacco. In her speech, Noor said drug use prevention is as important as the treatment of one of the world's greatest social problems. "The enemy you have come here to fight is one of the globe's richest and most powerful industries," she told delegates, noting that treatment often begins after the problem has already taken root. "Prevention gives us a chance to avoid damage rather than repair it," she said. Luc Chabot, president of the event, said prevention is a vitally needed effort, considering the scope of the problem. "In Canada, we know that the economics related to addiction on a large scale, if you add tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs, represents about $18 billion a year, directly and indirectly," he said, noting that younger and younger people are becoming afflicted. Chabot also pointed out the problem cuts across economic lines and more resources are needed. "All the community services work very hard without a lot of financing, sometimes so it's hard," he said. "We have some very good resources here in Quebec and Canada but the problem is growing. We need more resources and more budget to tackle this problem." Complete Title: Queen Noor Knocks Drugs in Montreal, Diplomatic on Pot DecriminalizationSource: Canadian PressAuthor: Nelson Wyatt, Canadian Press Published: Monday, September 23, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Canadian PressRelated Articles & Web Site:World Forum Montreal 2002http://www.worldforumdrugs-dependencies.com/Decriminalizing Pot: Why Stop There?http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13493.shtmlPot Laws Could Be Eased, Cauchon Says http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13427.shtml
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Comment #3 posted by The GCW on September 23, 2002 at 17:00:23 PT
Warning to (Canadian) mice.
I've always liked this one. (Must see it with the photo!)
http://www.cannabis.net/kush.html"The drug is really quite a remarkably safe one for humans, although it is really quite a dangerous one for mice and they should not use it."J.W.D Henderson Director of the Bureau of Human Drugs, Health and Welfare, Canada
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Comment #2 posted by malleus on September 23, 2002 at 15:42:38 PT
And I wonder how much the drug trade
contributes to the Jordanian economy? Especially when they have so little in resources. So, is the flow of dirty money propping up their economy as it is ours? Is the Pope Catholic?
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Comment #1 posted by Had Enough on September 23, 2002 at 14:37:57 PT
The Truth Slipped Out Again
Hmm"The enemy you have come here to fight is one of the globe's richest and most powerful industries," she told delegates,
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