cannabisnews.com: Canada Poised To Ease Pot Laws










  Canada Poised To Ease Pot Laws

Posted by CN Staff on October 03, 2002 at 07:03:51 PT
By Eric Beaudan, Special to the CSM 
Source: Christian Science Monitor  

On the heels of a Canadian Senate report recommending the full legalization of marijuana, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien signaled Monday that he may ease Canada's cannabis laws.In the annual Speech from the Throne, Canada's federal policy document (akin to the US State of the Union address), the Chrétien government said it may move toward decriminalization. Legalization would not be possible because of Canada's existing international agreements that prohibit it, the government said.
Should Canada decriminalize the possession of marijuana, which observers say is likely, it will continue a trend by Western countries. In the past year, Britain, Portugal, and Italy have all relaxed their marijuana laws, to go along with several other European countries that already have more liberal policies. At the federal level, the US is becoming increasingly isolated among its Western peers.The Bush administration maintains that a zero-tolerance policy is the only effective way to reduce addiction and trade."There is a widening drug-policy gap between the US and the rest of the industrialized world," says Ethan Nedelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance in New York, a liberal foundation dedicated to reforming US drug policy. Mr. Nedelmann points out that Canada repealed its alcohol prohibition laws before the US did, it was first country to introduce free needles to intravenous drug users, and the first to permit the use of marijuana for medical purposes in 2001.The Canadian Senate's Special Committee on Illegal Drugs, charged with recommending a course of action for Canada's drug policy, spent a year and a half meeting with citizens, interviewing foreign and domestic experts, and looking at dozens of studies on the use and effects of marijuana. The committee's 600-plus page report, released last month, recommends that Canada allow pot-smoking for adults and clearing the records of those convicted of possession.The Senate committee suggests decriminalization of marijuana as a first step. Under this regime, someone found with pot would receive a warning under the civil code – like a traffic ticket – instead of facing criminal charges. Britain is introducing similar measures that are expected to become law next year.Some 600,000 Canadians have criminal records for marijuana possession, and about 1.5 million people, or 5 percent of the population, smoke pot recreationally, according to the Canadian Medical Association."Drug-prohibition laws in Canada and elsewhere have failed to deter users," says Senator Pierre Claude Nolin, who chaired the Senate committee. Canada made pot illegal in 1923 and currently spends about C$2 billion (US $1.3 billion) a year in marijuana-related police and prosecution costs."Current drug laws are a funding device for organized crime," argues Fred McMahon, director of the social affairs center for the Fraser Institute, a free-market think tank based in Vancouver. Fraser released a report last year that buttressed the case for softer penalties.According to Mr. McMahon, drug prohibition creates a "perverse incentive" for organized crime to run illegal trade. "Profits from drug dealing create a funding bonanza for terrorists and criminals," he says.The Senate report comes at the time when Canada's Supreme Court is hearing a case on the constitutionality of the country's cannabis laws. In July last year, the government amended the law to make marijuana available for medicinal purposes. The Office of Cannabis Medical Access has since issued 248 licenses to grow marijuana, and more than 1,000 ill Canadians currently consume the plant.The debate crosses party lines. Progressive Conservative Party leader Joe Clark declared in May 2001 that people caught carrying marijuana should not face criminal charges."There are pockets of intelligent thought on this issue in all political parties," notes Eugene Oscapella, founder of the Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy. "We will find that the sky doesn't fall," he says about the possible relaxing of Canada's drug laws.What may fall on Canada, however, is the wrath of the US government, which estimates that about half of all illegally-grown pot ends up in the US."The problem today is that Canadian production of high-potency marijuana in British Columbia is a major source of marijuana in the US ... and it's spreading," declared John Walters, director of US national drug-control policy. Mr. Walters reacted to the Canadian Senate's report by warning of tighter border controls should Canada adopt softer drug laws."It would be a tremendous mistake for Canada to change its drug laws," echoes Eric Voth, chairman of the conservative US Institute on Drug Policy. Voth argues that since stiffening its drug laws in the 1980s, the US was able to cut drug use by as much as 50 percent.Last week, Antonio Maria Costa, executive director of the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention, said that Canada would be making a mistake if it tried to legalize marijuana. Mr. Costa said that marijuana is a health risk, much like tobacco, and that legalizing it would send the wrong signal to countries trying to combat drug use.According to the State Department, the US will not get involved in what it considers to be a domestic issue for Canada."We won't get much further than decriminalization," says the Fraser Institute's McMahon. "It would create an unmanageable problem for Canada-US relations."Nedelmann hopes that a relaxing of Canadian laws would influence US public opinion. In 2001, a USA Today/CNN/ Gallup poll showed that one-third of Americans favor legalizing pot, versus 47 percent of Canadians according to a University of Lethbridge poll. Those supporting decriminalization stand at about 65 percent. Nevada voters will decide next month whether or not to legalize small amounts of marijuana. Several states permit marijuana to be used for medical purposes.Note: On Monday, Prime Minister Chrétien signaled he may decriminalize possession of marijuana. Source: Christian Science Monitor (US)Author: Eric Beaudan, Special to the Christian Science Monitor Published: October 03, 2002 EditionCopyright: 2002 The Christian Science Publishing SocietyContact: oped csps.comWebsite: http://www.csmonitor.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:CFDPhttp://www.cfdp.ca/Drug Policy Alliancehttp://www.drugpolicy.org/U.S. Warns Against Liberalizing Laws on Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14331.shtmlSenate Report on Cannabis: Get Whole Story http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14319.shtmlOttawa Considers Decriminalizing Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14312.shtmlCanadian Panel Backs Legalizing Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14010.shtml

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Comment #12 posted by DdC on October 03, 2002 at 21:28:02 PT
Think It Is Wise for Canada to Decriminalize
Christian Science Monitor Poll
Do You Think It Is Wise for Canada to Decriminalize Marijuana? HelloI believe its a good start. A firm grasp of the obvious. Along with the other obvious matters of leaving the sick and dying to their doctors and their treatment methods. And not participating in one of the most obvious abuses of power in not re-legalizing hemp.All are one in the U.S. and their prohibitions have very obvious reasons behind them that have absolutely nothing to do with safety or health. The only thing remaining is why we would consider putting healthy people in cages for using cannabis. When they commit no other infraction. Whether you inhale or not, you are in possession. 735,000 Americans became criminals last year for possessing cannabis. At least decriminalizing is a good start in removing the violence of imprisonment and the hardship of losing income paying exuberant fines and lost time going through the hoops of the legal system.Now if we can get over the fact that many people in Canada and the U.S. use cannabis responsibly. With the only danger being the black market caused directly by prohibition. Re-Legalizing would actually make the most sense. The vested interest in the U.S. have no right or authority to steal U.S.citizens Liberties. Don't let them steal yours. In the U.S. Cannabis competition is kept from the market place through legislation. Hemp makes up 99% of the eradications. Thousands of corporate lobbyist in competition with their Monsanto poisons and Chevron fossil fuel plastics and fuel, food and fiber all replaced years ago with biomass, bio-diesel, fibersteel and organic herbal medicine. Old growth trees slaughtered for instant one time profit, unnecessarily. Pharmaceuticals and more recently the U.S. meat and grain industry when hemp seeds nutritional value became relearned. Cottons 270,000 TONs of petro chemicals compared to organic cannabis linen and fabric. The liquor beer and wine industries take more kids lives than anything yet it is not a major concern or included in the O.N.D.C.P. or D.E.A. budget. The same Madison Ave.propagandist churning out cannabis lies for Walters Philanthropy Roundtable tax shelters, churn out booze ads on the Super Bowl. Maybe, instead of busting pheasant habitat or sick people or adults minding their own business they could stop the idiots buying and selling booze to the kids. Free the courts,.cops and lawyers for violent offenses and white collar rip offs resulting in thousuands of defenceless victims.Alcohol related Neurological diseases and organ damage costing tax payers and filling wards. Chemicals treating these illness causing many over the counter medications to be purchased for the side effects. Or the chemicals added to U.S. tobacco not mentioned comparing it to organic cannabis. Coincidently made by the same conglomerant's making agent orangish eradication poison for the ditchweed in the Midwest. Pharmaceuticals also parenting many petro chemicals and Energy subsidiaries owning Networks and Publishing firms "programming" the media. Ethics? Morals? As defined by Enron and Arthur Anderson. Although they never handcuffed MS patients in wheel chairs. Profits and Taxes are hard to beat when all ya got is compassion and common sense. But this is a good start.Thank You Canada,Peace, Love and Liberty or the foolish D.E.A.th
DdCWelcome to Reality
http://www.angelfire.com/ca7/ddc/index.html   
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on October 03, 2002 at 16:21:10 PT
Christian Science Monitor Poll
Do You Think It Is Wise for Canada to Decriminalize Marijuana? 1. Yes  -- 250 votes (87%) 2. No   -- 37 votes (13%)  
286 people have voted so far
 Vote: http://monitortalk.csmonitor.com/cs-global/messages?msg=1232.1
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Comment #10 posted by DdC on October 03, 2002 at 14:02:08 PT
MY COUNTRY 'TIS OF THY PEOPLE YOU'RE DYING
http://pub3.ezboard.com/fendingcannabisprohibitionfrm13.showMessage?topicID=26.topicNOW THAT THE BUFFALO'S GONE
http://pub3.ezboard.com/fendingcannabisprohibitionfrm13.showMessage?topicID=28.topic
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Comment #9 posted by afterburner on October 03, 2002 at 12:14:07 PT:
on comment #7: Link truncated. New link.
search for:Inuit suicide rate among world's highest: report
Inuit suicide rate among world's highest: report
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Comment #8 posted by eco-man on October 03, 2002 at 10:45:35 PT
Why are so many conservatives for big government?
"...Eric Voth, chairman of the conservative US Institute on Drug Policy. Voth argues that since stiffening its drug laws in the 1980s, the US was able to cut drug use by as much as 50 percent." *666. CHART. Reagan's near-quadrupling of the US Incarceration Rate since 1980. Number of the Beast Ronald (6) Wilson (6) Reagan (6). The Reagan Revolution, and Just Say No. "Fascism should more appropriately be called corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power."  --Mussolini
http://www.angelfire.com/rnb/y/charts.htm and 
http://corporatism.tripod.com/charts.htm *Costs of U.S. Criminal Justice. CHARTS. By function and government level. Police, Judicial, Corrections, and Overall Total Yearly Costs. Federal, state, counties, municipalities. 
http://www.angelfire.com/rnb/y/costs.htm and 
http://corporatism.tripod.com/costs.htm *Holland, USA, UK. Cannabis and Drug Use. CHARTS. Effectiveness of Holland's harm reduction drug policies. 
http://www.angelfire.com/rnb/y/holland.htm and 
http://corporatism.tripod.com/holland.htm 
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Comment #7 posted by afterburner on October 03, 2002 at 10:40:12 PT:
Canada, Stand Up and Be Counted
Can you think of a better reason for re-legalizing cannabis?They need hope, don't you think? They have alcohol already: is it helping to ease their pain?
Inuit suicide rate among world's highest: report
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on October 03, 2002 at 09:10:33 PT
News Brief from The Canadian Press
No Commitment to Decriminalize Pot this Parliamentary Session: House Leader
 
 Thursday, October 03, 2002 
 
OTTAWA (CP) - Legislation to decriminalize pot may not be introduced in the current session of Parliament, says the government House leader. The government's throne speech earlier this week promised changes to drug laws, including "the possibility of the decriminalization of marijuana possession." However, House leader Don Boudria said Thursday the Liberals will seek the views of a Commons committee on the issue. In outlining the priorities for the new parliamentary session, Boudria made no promises of pot legislation. He said he would support changes to the law to make marijuana possession less than a criminal offence. Giving a teenager a criminal record because he smoked a joint is the law, he said, but it's not necessarily justice. Copyright 2002 The Canadian Press
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on October 03, 2002 at 08:16:48 PT
Day 4 - Doonesbury on Medical Marijuana Raids
http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/db.htm
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Comment #4 posted by Doobinie on October 03, 2002 at 08:04:32 PT
They could have gone even further...
and pointed out that the terrorist that was being harboured by the Taliban learned everything he needed to know to commit his terrible deeds from the CIA.
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Comment #3 posted by malleus on October 03, 2002 at 07:16:34 PT

Many thanks, WM!
But the last animated part should have shown "Dan" looking aghast at the US government giving his tax dollars to murderers of Americans. Then asking "Why?".
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Comment #1 posted by Windminstrel on October 03, 2002 at 07:08:50 PT

Wahoo!
Libertarian's response to those stupid "This is Dan" ONDCP ads:http://www.libertarianrant.com/taxmoney.htmlfunny (and accurate) as hell
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