cannabisnews.com: Decriminalize Pot, Commons Committee Argues Decriminalize Pot, Commons Committee Argues Posted by CN Staff on October 05, 2002 at 15:30:23 PT By Janice Tibbetts, Vancouver Sun Source: Vancouver Sun A special parliamentary committee studying marijuana laws is expected to recommend that the government decriminalize pot possession, according to a draft report.Several members on the House of Commons committee said in interviews that they favour eliminating a law that can saddle people with a criminal record for smoking marijuana. "I think no one on our committee is gritting their teeth about marijuana," said Liberal member Derek Lee. "I am extremely uncomfortable as a legislator devoting scarce resources to a drug that doesn't really matter very much on the harm scale. We are more concerned with lives lost, squashed in the gutter because of fatal addictions to harmful drugs."Justice Minister Martin Cauchon is awaiting the committee's report before making a final decision on legislation to decriminalize marijuana possession by making it punishable by a fine rather than a criminal record.The Special Committee on Non-Medical Use of Drugs has until Nov. 22 to report to the government. A new law decriminalizing marijuana could follow early in the new year, said Government House Leader Don Boudria.Snipped: Complete Article: http://www.canada.com/search/site/story.asp?id=E2635BBD-3E3E-4B7F-B3DA-759A56A8B08DSource: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)Author: Janice Tibbetts, Vancouver Sun Published: Saturday, October 05, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Vancouver SunContact: sunletters pacpress.southam.caWebsite: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/Related Articles & Web Site:Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmTo Legalize or Not to Legalize http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14360.shtmlCanadians Suggest Legalizing Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14333.shtmlU.S. Warns Against Liberalizing Laws on Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14331.shtmlSenate Report on Cannabis: Get Whole Story http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14319.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by afterburner on October 05, 2002 at 19:49:28 PT: decriminalizing small-scale cultivation: It balances the equation, but the government gets no tax benefit and those who are too sick to grow it still have to deal with the street, no quality control.Relegalise and be wise. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by puff_tuff on October 05, 2002 at 19:39:07 PT Hey Canucks.....Global Sunday This week on Global Sunday (Oct. 6) Just say yes to marijuana... that's the message from Canada's Senate, legalize it and tax it. The Chretien government says they'll consider decriminalization, making possession the equivalent of getting a parking ticket. Meanwhile, the White House wonders what Canadian politicians are smoking. Join in this week's debate, with Toronto law professor Allan Young and John P. Walters, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. http://www.canada.com/national/globalsunday/ Global Sunday Online Forum [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by delta9 on October 05, 2002 at 19:33:08 PT What I don't understand is... ...if you decriminalize possession, without decriminalizing small-scale cultivation (say 2-3 mature plants), how you expect the black market to do anything other than skyrocket? [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by John Tyler on October 05, 2002 at 16:02:19 PT Maxim article Maxim magazine #58 (www.maximonline.com) has an article, “The New Bootleggers” about cannabis in Kentucky. The article said that Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia produce 40% of the country’s cannabis. It said that among these three, Kentucky is the top producer. Kentucky residents grow weed as an economic necessity, as this is a depressed area. Even with frequent government eradication raids cannabis is so entwined in the local economy now that the whole eastern region of Kentucky would be in distress without it. Cannabis is the top cash crop in Kentucky and the whole country too at $32 billion annually. This article cast this subject in a positive light. These are good hard working people growing cannabis to get by and because they love it. The article was also refreshing because it didn’t have any lying comments in it from Asa or John about the evils of cannabis use. Check it out on your newsstand today. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment