cannabisnews.com: Decriminalize Small Amounts of Pot, Committee Says





Decriminalize Small Amounts of Pot, Committee Says
Posted by CN Staff on December 12, 2002 at 09:48:30 PT
By Allison Dunfield, Globe and Mail Update
Source: Globe and Mail 
A House of Commons committee Thursday recommended a "regime change" in the way that those possessing small amounts of cannabis are punished, advising that the be subject to a fine but neither court proceedings nor a criminal record.Those possessing 30 grams or less of marijuana — the amount the committee says would most likely be for personal use rather than for trafficking — would receive a ticket, similar to a traffic offence.
"We hope the Government of Canada and and all Canadians see our recommendations as constructive, practical and compassionate," said Liberal MP Paddy Torsney, chairwoman of the Commons Special Committee on the Non-Medical use of Drugs."Let's be clear — we are continuing to say that possession is illegal. ... How we sanction people who break the law is what we're suggesting be changed," Ms. Torsney said during a press conference Thursday morning in Ottawa.She said that, during the committee's 18 months of investigation, it found the application of the law governing marijuana is not applied evenly across the country.For example, she said, in Vancouver only 25 people per 100,000 were convicted of possession, while in Thunder Bay, the number convicted per 100,000 is 210."This committee as a whole believe this punishment is unfair, and a misuse of scant police resources," she said.Canadian Alliance MP Kevin Sorenson, also a committee member, said the Canadian Alliance supports the decriminalization of small amounts of possession but believes that the cutoff should be five grams, not 30.Anyone caught possessing even small amounts should be handed a "significant fine," Mr. Sorenson said.Failure to pay that fine would result in the loss of something substantive, such as a drivers licence, he said.On the other side of the spectrum, the Bloc Québécois members of the committee recommended that, along with possession, cultivating small amounts of cannabis also be decriminalized.And the NDP said they want a general amnesty for those who have been convicted of possession in the past and their criminal records wiped clean. Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)Author: Allison Dunfield, Globe and Mail UpdatePublished: Thursday, December 12, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Globe and Mail CompanyContact: letters globeandmail.caWebsite: http://www.globeandmail.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmChanges To Marijuana Law May Rankle Washington http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14952.shtmlCommittee To Recommend 30-Gram Pot Limit http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14951.shtmlParliamentary Committee To Recommend Pot Lawhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14942.shtml
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Comment #1 posted by Whirrlin on December 14, 2002 at 06:06:20 PT:
I don't Understand!
There are several things I don't understand about this. Although this appears to be a step in the right direction, for the most part its mainly in attitude.* How does it unburden police resources?  how much paperwork is still involved for the officers in issuing tickets. I know alot traffic cops that spend a great deal of time writing tickets and even greater deal of time doing the paperwork for them. * How does it remove the criminal element and decrease violent crime?These proposals only says that if your caught with Marijuana that its not a criminal offense. Doesn't this actually encourage the illegal sales and use of Marijuana? Those who use Marijuana will be more willing to seek it out, and there is no where to buy it except from drug dealers on the street where supply is still inconsisent. Doesn't this enhance the criminal element. Sure there are provisions to grow it on your own, however, how many realisticly will, why put up with the hassle when its easy to go out for an hour and pick it up off a street dealer. I don't see how it decreases theft either. Those too lazy to grow their own and with an inclination for theft, will see stealing others crops as a better alternative.
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