cannabisnews.com: Parliamentary Committee To Recommend New Pot Law Parliamentary Committee To Recommend New Pot Law Posted by CN Staff on December 11, 2002 at 07:45:55 PT By Brian Laghi and Kim Lunman Source: Globe and Mail A special parliamentary committee will recommend tomorrow that Ottawa decriminalize possession and cultivation of marijuana in amounts less than 30 grams, The Globe and Mail has learned.The recommendations, to be included in the report of the committee on non-medical use of drugs, will add weight to the suggestion of Justice Minister Martin Cauchon this week that Ottawa may move toward decriminalization as early as the new year. Sources told The Globe yesterday that the committee, which has been working for 18 months, will recommend that users not receive a criminal record if caught with less than 30 grams. Individuals would be allowed to cultivate the same amount without criminal sanction.Sources said the committee is not prepared to recommend how much to fine those caught with minimal amounts of the drug. The report will underline that trafficking in any amount will continue to be illegal.However, the committee is not unanimous in its views: Canadian Alliance members argue that 30 grams is too much. They note that the Netherlands, one of the world's most liberalized countries with respect to cannabis, has an upper limit of six grams. The Alliance wants the limit set at five grams.Raf Souccar, a spokesman for the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, said yesterday that the association supports "alternatives" like those put forward by the committee, but insists that rehabilitation and other measures must also be in place to discourage use.The idea may get a rough ride later this week when U.S. drug czar John Walters weighs in on the notion in Buffalo, N.Y. Mr. Walters is a known opponent of the idea and has expressed concern about increased flow of Canadian marijuana to the United States.Mr. Cauchon yesterday said he isn't worried that moves to decriminalize will strain bilateral relations. "There's a concern in our population with regard to marijuana," he said, adding that the government will consider a new drug strategy that would include more resources for enforcement. "As a country we're going to keep fighting drug smuggling and drug trafficking."Randy White, the Alliance vice-chairman of the committee, said U.S. authorities are concerned both about decriminalization and the possession limit."Thirty grams, according to decriminalization people, amounts to about 30 or 40 joints," he said. "People caught with 30 or 40 joints don't have it for personal use. Those are the people standing in the school yard selling it."Mr. White said 30 grams would be worth $50 to $80, an amount he considers too high.Mr. Cauchon's suggestions for decriminalization miffed Alliance MPs on the committee, who felt upstaged by his remarks."I'm very frustrated Mr. Cauchon would preempt the report," Alliance MP Kevin Sorenson said.Mr. Sorenson said the government must take the U.S. government's strong stance against illicit drugs into consideration when introducing legislation to liberalize marijuana laws."They're our biggest trading partners," Mr. Sorenson said. "We have to move cautiously on anything we do with legislation regarding illicit substances."Mr. Sorenson, who supports most of the committee's recommendations, also opposes the controversial suggestion that Canada open three safe injection sites for heroin users in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver as pilot projects.Ontario Premier Ernie Eves said yesterday the federal government is sending up trial balloons to divert attention from massive overspending on the gun registry and other federal scandals."If they wanted to change the channel, they certainly appear to have done that," he said at Queen's Park.Note: Users and growers of small amounts would not face criminal prosecution.With a report from Richard Mackie in Toronto.Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)Author: Brian Laghi and Kim LunmanPublished: Wednesday, December 11, 2002 – Print Edition, Page A10Copyright: 2002 The Globe and Mail CompanyContact: letters globeandmail.caWebsite: http://www.globeandmail.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmNew Pot Laws Could Be Inconsistent: Advocateshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14939.shtmlCauchon Says Pot Could Be Decriminalized Soonhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14931.shtmlDecriminalizing Pot Could Come Early in New Year http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14929.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #7 posted by delariand on December 11, 2002 at 12:50:03 PT nothing credible here "Thirty grams, according to decriminalization people, amounts to about 30 or 40 joints," he said. "People caught with 30 or 40 joints don't have it for personal use. Those are the people standing in the school yard selling it."All these arguments, 30 grams is way too much for personal use, nobody needs that much, blah blah. It's all bullshit. If I had 30 or 40 joints, they'd be gone in two weeks if I smoked them all to myself, and they probably wouldn't even make it a week if I was sharing with my friends.I used to work at Vons, and there was a lady that would come in every two weeks and buy three cartons of cigarrettes. That's 24 ounces, yep, count em, 24. Nobody said anything, nobody wants to throw her in jail, and I'm sure she took them right down to the local school yard and stood around selling cigarretes to kids...It's all a bunch of bullshit. I wish they'd do a study... gather 1000 american potheads together, give them each an unlimited supply of marijuana for a week, and see how just how high "personal use" can be. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by John Tyler on December 11, 2002 at 10:22:11 PT The weight debate 30 grams is just a very little bit over an ounce which is not really that much. An ounce was the standard measure for personal use when I was in college. The prohibitionist are just throwing up roadblocks. And the grow your own... Who can tell how big your plant will grow? It depends on too many factors. Can anyone tell how many apples an apple tree will produce? If they allow growing your own, it will have to be on the number of plants not how much plant material they produce. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Richard Lake on December 11, 2002 at 09:23:47 PT: I think that Canada will follow the report though we will not know what it really recommends until Thursday.The majority of the committee and the majority of the House of Commons, which writes the laws, are the same. They support a change.It may not be huge, a 30 gram limit, but on the other hand it will save a whole lot of folks records that now prevent them from traveling to the US, etc.OTOH, it will force some real changes, because now small towns and some areas really push the current law that provides a thousand dollar fine and six months jail - where in other places the cops just get upset if you blow smoke in their face and take your joint away. Canada basically has a national law - which is supposed to be enforced in an even handed way across the country.The fact that it is not, that even the Chief of Police organization recognizes that and sees the need for change, is a sign that there will be change.btw, while this will not legalize cannabis, it is just possible that the Supreme Court will under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Oral arguments on that case are Friday. I wish I could be there. An answer could take a half year or so, but there is good reason to hope, as folks who understand the Charter and the results of past Charter cases know. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on December 11, 2002 at 08:46:18 PT Just A Comment The growing part of the new law is going to be very hard to figure out. It's like the law makers don't undertand that this is not a chemical but a living, breathing plant. I have a million thoughts running thru my head and if I do I'm sure many people are thinking the same way. This is a good beginning but it is only the beginning. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by WolfgangWylde on December 11, 2002 at 08:43:49 PT I don't think... ...they're even seriously considering decriminalizning cultivation of any amount, so I woudln't worry about the 30 gram limit, Big Dawg. Of course, I don't think they're seriously considering decrim of ANY kind anyway. Its just a dog and pony show. In a couple of years, they'll commission new reports and start the whole circus over again. Makes 'em look like they're addressing the issue. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by BigDawg on December 11, 2002 at 08:33:02 PT 30 grams is too much? If a recreational user wants to avoid the black market by growing his own, then the 30 gram limit is rediculous. A single plant will put them over the limit. And growing one plant at at time will not keep a regular smoker supplied. So the black market will still exist. It will get even worse with a 5 gram limit. That will *require* the involvement of black market dealers. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Sam Adams on December 11, 2002 at 08:03:31 PT They ALWAYS lie about Holland...... The personal limit in Holland isn't 5 grams - that's smallest legal unit of SALE. It is perfectly legal to walk to 10 different coffeeshops and buy 5 grams at each.More doublethink....dealers standing in schoolyards? Ask any judge and they'll tell you the only dealers in schoolyards are the kids themselves, selling it to each other. It's subliminal programming of adults - brainwashing people to support laws that will be used against their own children and family members. Anyone who works in the legal system will tell you there is no trench-coat wearing dealer. I've heard judges in my city say that they've never seen a school-zone infraction used against someone over 18 selling drugs to children. 99% of those offenses are usually motor vehicles nabbed by traps set up within school zones. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment