cannabisnews.com: Ottawa Considers Decriminalizing Marijuana





Ottawa Considers Decriminalizing Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on September 30, 2002 at 21:12:41 PT
By Campbell Clark, From Tuesday's Globe and Mail
Source: Globe and Mail 
Ottawa — The federal government signalled in yesterday's Throne Speech that it will move toward decriminalizing marijuana, but left enough wiggle room to elude controversy.A declaration that the government will possibly decriminalize marijuana was the strongest indicator yet of the government's desire to move toward decriminalization, adopting leanings already expressed by Justice Minister Martin Cauchon.
While the pledge was guarded, the mention in the speech was intended to create momentum for the liberalization of marijuana laws."The government . . . will act on the results of parliamentary consultations with Canadians on options for change in our drug laws, including the possibility of the decriminalization of marijuana possession," the speech stated.However, after the speech Mr. Cauchon made no promises of action. He said only that he intends to update the government's national drug strategy, and that reconsidering marijuana laws will be part of that. "We'll see. It's going to be part of an overall position from the government."The choice of language in the speech was unusually tepid — Throne Speeches tend to be broad and vague, but rarely promise "possibilities" on specific questions. But in official Ottawa, the inclusion of any mention of a policy shift in a Throne Speech raises its priority within the bureaucracy and sets wheels moving.A senior government official said the mention was clearly a signal that the Liberals want to decriminalize marijuana — but they have decided to test the water further in the face of opposition.A go-ahead signal on decriminalization would be certain to renew opposition from groups such as the Canadian Police Association — and from the U.S. government, which still supports a broad zero-tolerance policy.John Walters, the Bush administration's drug czar, criticized a Canadian Senate committee report that favoured full legalization of marijuana, and Canadian government officials acknowledged privately that the prospect of decriminalization here will rile the U.S. government.The official said it was Mr. Cauchon who pushed for the inclusion of the idea in the Throne Speech, because he wants to see decriminalization through.Mr. Cauchon has already said he favours decriminalization, which would see jail terms, stiff fines and criminal records for marijuana possession replaced by the equivalent of a traffic ticket. But he has said Canadians are not ready for full legalization, which would allow the open sale of pot.The Justice Minister's push for decriminalization may have gained impetus when a Senate committee report came out."It's Goldilocks policy making," said Toronto MP Carolyn Bennett, who favours legalization. "Some things are too hot, some things are too cold, and this is just right."While Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen Harper said the Commons can debate the issue and Alliance MPs will take "different views" on it, some more socially conservative Liberal MPs in the Liberal caucus were upset.Dan McTeague, MP for Pickering-Ajax-Uxbridge, argued that modern marijuana is highly toxic and possessing it should remain a crime: "I don't think that the Canadian public has come to one mind on the decriminalization of marijuana," he said.Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)Author: Campbell Clark, From Tuesday's Globe and MailPublished: Monday, September 30, 2002 Copyright: 2002 The Globe and Mail CompanyContact: letters globeandmail.caWebsite: http://www.globeandmail.ca/Related Articles:Canada Mulls Laxer Laws on Possessing Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14307.shtmlDrugs: Ottawa Will Consider Decriminalization http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14304.shtmlLegalize Marijuana, Senate Committee Sayshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13989.shtml 
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Comment #7 posted by afterburner on October 01, 2002 at 20:57:18 PT:
LTE
Exactement, JR. Good LTE. Mail it far and wide. Peace, Compassion, and Re-legalization.As it was in the beginning...
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Comment #6 posted by VitaminT on October 01, 2002 at 07:03:57 PT
Latest statewide poll in Nevada
Is this old news?Update from MPP exerpted:*  On Thursday, the NBC television affiliate in Las Vegas released the first statewide poll since a September 1 poll showed our initiative down 40% to 55%, claiming that we are now ahead 56% to 43%. We didn't believe we were that far behind four weeks ago, and we don't believe we are 13 points ahead now. Rather, our day-to-day "Get Out The Vote" work is indicating that we are dead even right now. 
 Regardless, this latest poll is encouraging and exhilarating, showing that our TV commercials that have been running since September 12 are clearly having a positive impact upon the electorate.
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Comment #5 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on October 01, 2002 at 05:26:33 PT
LTE
Sirs,  Decriminalizing personal possession of marijuana would be an excellent start to overhauling Canadian drug laws. Unfortunately, it is not enough. By leaving the production and distribution of cannabis in the black market, Ottawa will still be funneling large profits to criminals and possibly terrorists. Canada will still be spending millions of its tax dollars to try to control these criminals, instead of reaping large profits from the legally regulated sale of cannabis. People who buy cannabis will still be offered hard drugs. Traffickers will still have to settle their disputes without turning to of law enforcement. And children will still find it easier to obtain cannabis than alcohol. Decriminalization is certainly better than no change at all, but too many of the problems of prohibition would still remain.
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Comment #4 posted by kanabys on October 01, 2002 at 05:09:43 PT
Toxic???
I'd dare to say not nearly as toxic as the air in any major U.S. city!
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on September 30, 2002 at 22:30:55 PT
New Doonesbury about Medical Marijuana
http://www.doonesbury.com/strip/dailydose/index.cfm
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on September 30, 2002 at 22:00:22 PT
CorvallisEric
Grandfather's pot would be just fine! 
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Comment #1 posted by CorvallisEric on September 30, 2002 at 21:43:54 PT
Modern marijuana
>>> Dan McTeague, MP for Pickering-Ajax-Uxbridge, argued that modern marijuana is highly toxic and possessing it should remain a crime Does he mean "not your grandfather's pot" or the "whole new drug" or maybe the new 105% BC bud? Hey Dan, here's a deal: just legalize old fashioned Colombia Gold and Panama Red. Surely much less "toxic".
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