cannabisnews.com: Report Provides Information for a New Drug Policy Report Provides Information for a New Drug Policy Posted by CN Staff on October 01, 2002 at 08:43:02 PT Lte by Senator Pierre-Claude Nolin Source: Sault Star The response to the report of the Senate Committee on Illegal Drugs has, in many ways, been just what we hoped for: informed discussion, debate and dialogue. However, some of what the committee said in our report either was not heard or has been misunderstood. First, we do not endorse recreational drug use. We would prefer to see a drug-free society just as we would love to see world peace, but we are realistic enough to know that we will not likely see it in our lifetime. The premise of our report is that in a free society such as ours, citizens should have the right to make informed decisions on their own behaviour as long as it does not inordinately harm others. We found that cannabis falls into that category. It is less harmful to individuals and to others than tobacco or alcohol, so let’s treat it in a similar way. We found no good reason for Canadians to have a criminal record for personal recreational use of marijuana. There has also been a lot of controversy around our report regarding the legal age limit. The committee recommended an age limit for legal consumption at 16 as an absolute minimum age based on scientific findings that the human brain is developed enough by then not to be physically harmed. We recommend that the authorities not legalize cannabis for use below the age of 16. There may be good reason to determine that another age above 16 would be best. That’s why we want the federal and provincial players to meet with other health and community stakeholders to determine an acceptable age. This report is not about comparing the merits of cannabis to other substances, but about whether otherwise law-abiding Canadians should be persecuted, prosecuted and penalized for consuming a substance proven to be relatively benign. We believe that education, treatment and prevention are the ways to deal with any problems use of tobacco, alcohol or cannabis may cause, not prohibition and criminalization. Just as disturbing have been the attacks from some of the organizations that represent the police community. We consider their advice carefully but don’t completely agree with them. At the same time, our report addresses specific issues raised by police such as calling for a national drug policy, a national advisor and effective research coordination, and recommending that the legal blood alcohol level be reduced to .04 from .08 when in the presence of cannabis. Finally, there is the notion that our report promotes or advances criminal activity or terrorism. Currently, organized crime enjoys vast profits from the sale of illicit drugs. Legalization takes the production and distribution of cannabis out of the hands of organized crime. Profits would go to shareholders, not terrorists or gangs. Buyers would not be purchasing cannabis from someone who is also selling crack cocaine or heroin. If there is any gateway effect that can be attributed to cannabis, it’s the fact that buyers are exposed to dealers who stand to gain more from pushing much more highly addictive substances than they do from selling cannabis. It is clear that Canadians are more than willing to debate this issue. I hope our report continues to provide the information and ideas to help Canada to a new policy of healing and dignity, rather than the degradation and despair created by our current prohibitionist policy. Senator Pierre-Claude Nolin, Chair, Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs, Ottawa, Ont.Source: Sault Star, The (CN ON)Author: Senator Pierre-Claude NolinPublished: Tuesday, October 01, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Sault StarContact: Ssmstar ssm.southam.caWebsite: http://www.saultstar.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmOttawa Considers Decriminalizing Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14312.shtmlLegalize Marijuana, Senate Committee Sayshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13989.shtml The Special Senate Committee on Illegal Drugs http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13987.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #7 posted by afterburner on October 01, 2002 at 21:04:29 PT: freddybigbee Come us and see us sometime, and few the chat. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on October 01, 2002 at 15:54:28 PT Too Stupid To Be President >>I believe the answer is that the Canadian Senators who crafted this report are NOT ELECTED. Don't forget, neither was Dubya! If not being elected is all that one needs for common sense regarding cannabis, then somebody please explain our supreme court. Too Stupid To Be President Dot Com [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by idbsne1 on October 01, 2002 at 13:01:35 PT the House is doing a report?!!!! Oh sh*t,......There goes the Senate report. I'll bet anyone willing that it'll say the opposite of the Senate report, just so that there is more confusion and delay.I hope not.....idbsne1 [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by TroutMask on October 01, 2002 at 12:05:26 PT The Answer "Can they they explain how Canada can have such people as their civil servants, while we get a miraculously preserved and revived proto-human as the Chief Executive?"I believe the answer is that the Canadian Senators who crafted this report are NOT ELECTED. Politicians facing elections must do whatever they can to be elected. This means cowtowing to whoever has the MONEY and ignoring common sense, decency, science and reality in general if it does anything to lessen their chances of getting elected. If you don't have to worry about being elected, you can be completely honest and realistic and use science and facts instead of repeating whatever it is you know everyone wants to hear. The Canadian House of Commons will be releasing a similar report in November. Since those folks are ELECTED, we can be sure that they will not produce such a factual and realistic report as did the Senate....or so is my understanding of the Canadian political system.-TM [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by freddybigbee on October 01, 2002 at 11:07:36 PT: Canada... Canada today sounds like the USA of the nineteenth century as regards civil discourse. There was a time in the US when political discussion contained a grain of truth, when those entrusted with the public good took seriously their responsibility. Now all we get in the US is spin. Our very language has been subverted from a reasoning tool to a mere justification of pre-determined (economic) positions.I guess the two-party system that rules our lives is to blame. Without proportional representation, 49% of people can think cannabis is harmless and the policy of the law remains put growers in a cage and steal their real property. The 49% don't matter one iota in the US. I believe that in Canada the 49% would have some ability to compromise with the 51% on a policy, but not here. Here it's "you're either with us or against us," us being the nut who was barely elected (or not). Black and white we are, no grey, no compromise. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by malleus on October 01, 2002 at 10:27:43 PT Merci, M. Nolin! Can somebody explain something to me? Can they they explain how Canada can have such people as their civil servants, while we get a miraculously preserved and revived proto-human as the Chief Executive? [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by phriedphish on October 01, 2002 at 09:18:58 PT Damnnnnnnn As I can tell, in Canada Politicians actually have a spine. In fact, you could argue that Senator Nolin just refuted any argument that could be proposed by ONDCP and co. I'm really excited to see how this issue turns out, considering politicians are comming out in support for the commitee's recommendation. If only our politicians had heard the NUMEROUS studies of NUMEROUS comissions that had agreed exactly with the recent Canadian one. How about the Schafer, LaGuardia, et al. If science proves that Cannabis is safe and benign, and Prohibitionists continue to say that science rejects cannabis, what the hell are they hiding? Its almsot like they are protecting the national pharmaceutical and industrial corporations against a little plant. Their time is comming....soon! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment