cannabisnews.com: Canada Pot Debate Makes U.S. Uneasy 





Canada Pot Debate Makes U.S. Uneasy 
Posted by CN Staff on October 22, 2002 at 20:59:54 PT
Fox News Story
Source: FoxNews.com
The U.S. government is antsy about a Canadian report that recommends the legalization of marijuana. The report released by the Canadian Senate last month also suggested that drinking alcohol is far more dangerous than smoking marijuana. "We have a problem. The problem is much more driven by prohibition and enforcement of the law," said Canadian Sen. Pierre Nolin of the Progressive Conservative Party.
Nolin is chairman of the Canadian Senate's Special Committee on illegal drugs.After studying marijuana use, the committee issued a report last month that concluded that Canadian laws making marijuana use or possession a crime are "ineffective."It said that marijuana use poses "very little danger" and recommended that it be legal for Canadians to light up a joint as early as age 16."The debate is not finished. It is only the start of the debate," Nolin said.The report has drawn sharp criticism from many, including the U.S. government, but has lots of America's youth flocking north of the border.The fact that Canada's drinking age is 19 and Cuban cigars are legal add to the draw.U.S. officials are already getting their rebuttals in."It would create a border security problem for us, an addiction problem for us, a law enforcement problem for us," John Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, said.Walters, also known as the nation's "drug czar," points out that the United States already has a big problem with Canadian-grown marijuana, especially from western provinces like British Columbia."We approximately have 1,400 pounds of B.C. marijuana," said U.S. Customs official Jacqueline Nolte, of a recent bust. "Normally, we get between 200 and 300 pounds. This is very, very large."U.S. Customs agents regularly catch Canadian smugglers trying to bring large amounts of marijuana into the United States.And while users claim pot is harmless, Walters says the opposite is true."More teenagers seek treatment for marijuana dependency than alcohol," he said.The U.S.-Canadian border is already porous and as Canada's largest trading partner, the United States is unlikely to sit on the sidelines while its neighbor to the north weighs whether to make marijuana legal.Still, Nolin said, the matter isn't the United States' decision."At the end of the day, the decision will be taken by Canadians for Canadians," he said.Source: FoxNews.comPublished: Wednesday, October 23, 2002Copyright: Fox News Network, LLC 2002Website: http://www.foxnews.com/Contact: foxnewsonline foxnews.comRelated Articles:Canada Poised To Ease Pot Lawshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14339.shtmlU.S. Warns Against Liberalizing Laws on Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14331.shtmlSenate Report on Cannabis: Get Whole Story http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14319.shtmlCanadian Pot Debate Worries U.S. Officialshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14302.shtml 
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Comment #20 posted by Whirrlin on October 23, 2002 at 20:47:57 PT:
I have a theory!!
I have a theory on this comment:"More teenagers seek treatment for marijuana dependency than alcohol," he said.I think this is because the parents of the teenagers drinking alcohol, are saying ok, well, they are underage but in another 4 or 5 years they will be 21, they are just being kids, so as long as they stay in the house or in the backyard while drinking everything is ok! Usually these are the parents that while their kids are in the backyard drinking they are also enjoy a good peach schopps in the kitchen. However when it comes to marijuana, all they hear is drugs. Its a drug, my kid is doing drugs,I must get him help (treatment) before he melts his brain and ruins his life. They react this way because that is what they are constantly be fed by the government drug programs, marijuana is dangerous, whoooo stay away, go go get help as soon as you can! Hence, more kids wind up in treatment centers for marijuana instead of alcohol, however I can speak from experience in my own community there are alot more kids have problems with alcohol than with marijuana. Parents should also remeber that we always talk about drugs being marijuana, cocaine, heroin etc.,but that alcohol and tobacco are every bit a drug too, and have negative side effects, and are addictive, actually much more so than marijuana. I love that in our society the lingo is so much differnet for alcohol and tobacco than for marijuana, when a person is intoxicated by alcohol he is said to be drunk, no big deal, right, or when a person smokes a cirgarette he has a nictoine habit ok so, but when someone smokes marijuana he is getting high, he is on drugs,watch out! It makes it all seem so much more sinister doesn't it. Why don't we say when someone is drunk he is also high! 
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Comment #19 posted by SWAMPIE on October 23, 2002 at 04:13:01 PT
BGreen.................DANA...........
Sho'you right! Peace to all! Vambo Rools! Dana,I suggest you check SAHB out!Awesome!SWAMPIE
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Comment #18 posted by BGreen on October 23, 2002 at 03:45:17 PT
Why does Canada care what the USA thinks
when the USA doesn't give a flying flip what Canada thinks?That ought to be enough for Canada to tell us to "jump in the lake, you hosers."SWAMPIE, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band thinks the USA should back off, too.
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Comment #17 posted by BGreen on October 23, 2002 at 03:39:28 PT
Tens of Millions of high quality cannabis seeds
are already in the good ol' police states of amerika, courtesy of the Dutch and Canadians who are selling us many strains originally developed here in the PSA, but sent away to be nurtured by our friends and preserved for the future.It seems comical that the strain "Bubblegum" possibly originated in Indiana, but that the Dutch get credit for this TASTY treat.(brief pause for a bubblegum break, brought to me by the power of suggestion)The prohibitionists can't even get rid of feral hemp, so what makes them think they'll ever defeat the breeders and connoisseurs of fine cannabis?BTW, we're ALL cool or we wouldn't be here at CNews.
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Comment #16 posted by DANA on October 23, 2002 at 03:35:28 PT
...gosh SWAMPIE...
I wish I could identify the song challenge,but I got a feelin' that the lyrics you quoted are from the deep south type trip,,and here I am ,,out here on the West Coast!.....I remember seeing Black Oak Arkansas open for Humble Pie,and Wishbone Ash,in Seattle years ago!..I dont know?,,maybe that song is by the same guy who did .."Polk Salad Annie".(?)....
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Comment #15 posted by SWAMPIE on October 23, 2002 at 03:20:36 PT
DDDDANA...............
 No way am I any cooler than you or BGreen,or anyone else for that matter.I just have thoughts and feelings like everyone else.I'd love to hear you both on your guitars,cause I'm sure that would be exorbitantly-fantastically cool!!!!!!!!!!! BTW,I just tried to make a soup-sandwich,and it was pretty f#$^ed-up!The fresh herbs in it were good though after I scraped it into a bowl.LOL! Look out USA!Here comes Canada!!! OTTF! SWAMPIE "LET ME BE YOUR SWAMPSNAKE TIL THE REAL ONE COMES ALONG" Who sang this?
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Comment #14 posted by DANA on October 23, 2002 at 03:06:58 PT
...SWAMPIE...
...I think maybe you might be cooler than BGreen!...I'm in a strange mood 2-nite...JAH is no secret!d
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Comment #13 posted by DANA on October 23, 2002 at 03:00:54 PT
...not everyone knows....
...that I'm just joking! ....but far be it from me to blame anyone who is unaware.....In fact,..,in a certain way;people who take me seriously,are the best people in the worldddd!
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Comment #12 posted by SWAMPIE on October 23, 2002 at 02:55:08 PT
B Green....DANA>>>>.........
 This Whole deal is as F^ #$%-up as a"SOUP-SANDWICH.Thousands of our "heroic" law-enforcement people can't even find one or two idiots,and as said,they take out their frustratins on the peaceful guys,who would do ANYTHING to help them,if only we were allowed to.Gotta Love AMERIKA!
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Comment #11 posted by DANA on October 23, 2002 at 02:46:42 PT
....BGreen....
...you are kinda one of my best friends.........I'll betchya you would freak if you heard how I play the guitar!...(especially the 12 string!).....LoL..................................................the "d"
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Comment #10 posted by BGreen on October 23, 2002 at 02:38:17 PT
The biggest difference, DANA,
is that we know you're just joking.
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Comment #9 posted by BGreen on October 23, 2002 at 02:26:58 PT
Why ignore it, DANA?
ONE SOB with a high-power rifle is holding millions of people hostage in the D.C. area, they're living in fear with the direct threat of harm against their children from this evil bastard, and yet MY government is still calling Canada and the cannabis smoking US citizens terrorists and waging war against us. There are over 1,000 cops involved in failing to track down this sniper as one person after another is dropping dead in his cross-hairs, but the MF'n coward pigs are successfully attacking sick people across this country over a PLANT.NOTHING dddd, qqqq, or any other alter-ego has EVER written here is close to the insanity of the government sponsored propaganda being forced down our throats.
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Comment #8 posted by DANA on October 23, 2002 at 02:07:08 PT
..please...
...accept my apologies for the previous post.......Dana had nothing to do with it.,...d
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Comment #7 posted by DANA on October 23, 2002 at 01:45:30 PT
South Park
..OK it's kinda funny....but how long until the empire says;"Canada is part of the axis of evil!"..??.....think it's funny?...think it's silly??....If the US empire can declare such absurd notions as the "threat",Iraq poses to the US,and therefore use weapons of mass destruction,to wipe out the weapons of mass destruction,,,then when will the empire stop?...Those damn Canadian rebels have been sneakin' around,,and plannin' evildoin' for years an' years!,,,an' it's a good thaing we finullee gawt a prezidunt hoo cajn handul this kind uv stuff!!letz drawp sum day-zee cutturs on Regina,an nuke Vancouver Island!..Hot bed of Weeds,and evil....we can put big nuke subs in the Strait of Juan de Fuca,and station navy seals at Port Angeles!..We will make Victoria into Kabul! We will make it so Palestinians will be glad they dont live in Victoria,or Nanaiamo!......Canada!...Hotbed of Al-Quaeada activity!....Time to wipe them off the face of the map!....Canadian Al-quaeda will never be able to hide from the US anti-terror forces!!!! If you're not for us,you're against us,,and we will crush you big time ,you evildoing al-quaeda terrorist cell network of evil doings!!!.....If you happen to be one of the few innocent Canadians,,then I urge you to leave now!...come on down to the states,and we will let you stay after we verify that you are not terrorist related!!...Hopefully,,you wont be found to be one of those Al-Quaeda assholes,,,because if you are,,we got a nice kennel in Cuba where we are gonna putchya,,and then,,we'll make ya tell us all about the evildoins that your Al-Quaeda network is plannin' for us,,and then we can issue a yellow,or purple alert,so the American people can be ready for your next attack of evildoin' terror!....................Ha-ha Canada!....looks like you're busted!!!!!...You thought you could trick the US into thinking you were our "friends{"! ...... all I can say,,,is DIE you Canadian terrorist SCUM!
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Comment #6 posted by MaryJaneFreedom on October 23, 2002 at 00:58:42 PT
We need South Park the Movie again!
  When Canada does legalize, you can bet the US will start blaming all the crime that will result from people bringing the herb down.  I think we need to hear South Park the Movie's theme song... "Blame Canada!" And again remember just how ignorant it is to do so.
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Comment #5 posted by Naaps on October 22, 2002 at 23:38:43 PT
Cheers to Senator Nolin!
 ”At the end of the day, the decision will be taken by Canadians for Canadians” Yes, he is right. But it would take a courageous, deep thinking Prime Minster, the seat of power in Canada, to leap from the present prohibition to the legalization envisioned by the Senate Committee. In the meantime, one expects the fight to simmer on through Voter Initiatives in the States, and in Supreme Court challenges here in Canada. The Prime Minster would be influenced by the $1.3 Billion per day trade between our countries, the increasing harmonization in border patrol, military and law enforcement agencies, and also, UN Treaties. With one in four Canadian’s employment dependent on trade with the US, border disruptions could have a significant impact…But at the end of the day, if the US acted on Walters threats, it would be cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face. America needs our goods and services too, would the American economy like to take a quick 10% depreciation just because a democratic neighbor legalized cannabis? We legalized hemp, and while nothing from the plant crosses the border, life went on, trade continues. The main thing is that Canadians can and should legalize, but no cannabis will be allowed across the line.	Walters and Senator Nolin met in Quebec City in June, when Walters came to give a keynote speech to a junket for the College on Problems of Drug Dependence. The Senate Committee had finished all public meetings, working on the final report which they released 3 months later. I specifically contacted the Senate clerk asking if there were any transcripts. Apparently, the meeting took place over dinner, and no notes were taken. I really would like to know what was said, if acrimony strained relations, if everyone was cordial. I wonder if Senator Nolin looked Walters in the eye and unflinchingly told him that Canada will legalize.
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Comment #4 posted by Had Enough on October 22, 2002 at 23:06:05 PT
The Smile
"We approximately have 1,400 pounds of B.C. marijuana," said U.S. Customs official Jacqueline Nolte, of a recent bust. "Normally, we get between 200 and 300 pounds. This is very, very large."On the TV she appeared to be trying to hide a smile, but it showed right through. She couldn’t help it.Help our friends at http://www.nrle.org They are very serious and are doing a professional job. They need money, a lot of it and now. Send them anything. Every bit helps. The time is here to do our part. Nevada is taking a big step for man, and huge, gigantic leaps, bounds, cartwheels, and jumping-jacks for mankind.And don’t forget to VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE
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Comment #3 posted by firedog on October 22, 2002 at 21:57:54 PT
Another thing...
I didn't know that Sen. Pierre Nolin belonged to the "Progressive Conservative" party.That seems like a major contradiction of terms to me...Not that I'm opposed to it. I have a great deal of respect for Sen. Nolan's willingness to speak the truth.
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Comment #2 posted by canaman on October 22, 2002 at 21:52:06 PT
"This is very, very large." she said
"We approximately have 1,400 pounds of B.C. marijuana," said U.S. Customs official Jacqueline Nolte, of a recent bust. "Normally, we get between 200 and 300 pounds. This is very, very large."Oh, I could drive that away in a U-Haul truck. And they worry about 3 ounces in Nevada. Hey I got an idea, why don't you tax it?
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Comment #1 posted by firedog on October 22, 2002 at 21:27:43 PT
Free will
"More teenagers seek treatment for marijuana dependency than alcohol," he said.This is Mr. Walters' new favorite soundbite. He wants to create a new "reefer madness", but like the other Prohibitionists before him, he just can't tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.What's left unsaid, of course, is what percentage of teens seek this treatment of their own volition. I'd be willing to wager a trip to Las Vegas, Canada, or Amsterdam that the overwhelming majority of them are forced to by parents, or school officials, or the juvenile court system... or else.
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