cannabisnews.com: U.S. Drug Czar Slams Proposed Pot Rule Changes





U.S. Drug Czar Slams Proposed Pot Rule Changes
Posted by CN Staff on December 13, 2002 at 08:13:44 PT
By CTV News Staff
Source: CTV
U.S. drug czar John Walters is chastising Canada for the "reefer-madness" attitude of a committee that recommends relaxing the rules on pot possession. Walters warns that if Canada goes ahead with decriminalization, it could create border security problems. Walters, the director of the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy, told a news conference in Buffalo Thursday that he was startled to hear recently from RCMP officials that 95 per cent of all marijuana grown in Vancouver is sent to the United States.
Any pot law changes could eventually lead to increased problems at the border, he warned."Their estimates are the bulk of that marijuana is headed for the United States and it's large quantity, high-potency. It builds on the threat that we now believe we have underestimated and we're trying to address," Walters said."It makes security at the border tougher, because this is a dangerous threat to our young people given what we see. It makes the problem of controlling the border more difficult."On Thursday, a Commons committee recommended decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use, saying current penalties are inappropriate. The committee was clear, however, that marijuana should not be legalized. It also stressed that trafficking cannabis should remain a crime, as should cultivating marijuana, and driving a vehicle under the influence of the drug.The Special Parliamentary Committee on the Non-medicinal Use of Drugs concluded that those caught holding a small amount of the drug -- 30 grams of marijuana or less (about one ounce) -- should not be saddled with a criminal record. The all-party committee of MPs explained its decision by pointing to the high number of criminal charges handed out for simple possession of marijuana, noting that cannabis offences accounted for about three-quarters of all drug-related offences in 2001."This committee feels this practice to be unfair and wasteful of scarce police and judicial resources," said Paddy Tornsey, the head of the committee, in announcing the recommendations Thursday. "Moreover, we contend that the penalty of a permanent criminal record represents a case where the punishment exceeds the crime."The Committee says it would prefer to see cannabis possession offences decriminalized by designation as a "contravention." Offenders would be issued tickets, and fines would be paid without a court appearance, similar to the way traffic violations are prosecuted. "The committee hopes that these changes would free police and judicial resources to pursue other more serious criminal activity.""Smoking any amount of marijuana is unhealthy. But the consequences of conviction (of possession) of a small amount of marijuana for personal use are disproportionate to the potential harm," explained Tornsey. If possession is to be decriminalized, the committee called for government prevention and education programs, especially for young people, to accompany the changes. It also urged the creation of a drug commissioner to make annual reports on a renewed national drug strategy, and $3 million in federal funding each year for the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse.About 600,000 Canadians have criminal records for pot possession. Those convictions should stand, the committee recommended.The NDP welcomed most aspects of the report but says the committee's report is marked by "glaring shortcomings" and isn't fair to those already convicted of pot possession. The Canadian Alliance was displeased with the recommendations, saying the 30-gram limit is too high. MP Randy White, a member of the committee, points out that 30 grams is enough for about 30 joints. He recommended the bar be set at five grams."How anyone could recommend 30 grams of marijuana be decriminalized and not say they are legalizing it is a mystery," the party says in the committee's supplementary report. "Even Holland, the most liberal of all countries, only accepts five grams as the maximum amount." Justice Minister Martin Cauchon, who has admitted to smoking marijuana in his youth, said earlier this week he's looking forward to seeing the report. He also said he wants to take steps to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana within "the first four months of next year." Source: CTV (Canada)Published: December 13, 2002Copyright: 2002 Bell Globemedia Interactive Inc. Website: http://www.ctv.ca/Contact: newsonline ctv.ca Related Articles & Web Sites:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmLoosen Pot Laws and Face Tighter Border http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14969.shtmlU.S. Fears Change in Marijuana Lawshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14968.shtmlU.S. Frets Canada May Ease Marijuana Law http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14961.shtmlDrug Czar Talks About Tightening at Borderhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14955.shtml 
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on December 13, 2002 at 22:45:57 PT
SoberStoner 
I understand why moving to Vancouver would be nice. I love where I live and it is far from the hussle and bussle of D.C. life or any major city. If I lived in a city I would want to move too. Things are just not the same since 9-11. Good luck to you.
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Comment #6 posted by SoberStoner on December 13, 2002 at 10:49:06 PT:
Doublespeak is alive and well
Greetings from the epicenter of the madness.A few miles away from DC, this latest turn of events again has me wondering which country is truly the land of the free.Canada is finally realizing the absurdity of criminalizing a plant, and the US administration is doing everything it can to turn the once great nation of America into a barbaric fascist police state reminiscent of 1930's Germany. Do not be surprised to see the borders of our country become laced with barbed wire fences and checkpoints every few miles along with harder immigration laws and more roadblocks for those seeking to leave the country. The only question (and not really a question at all) is this, will it be to keep the drugs out, or the people in?Every new story I read of Bush and his cronies arming for war and blantantly lying to the American public about anything they want to and the media forcing it down the people's throats without a single dissenting question, I wonder what happened to the country that I grew up loving and defending against any who spoke against it. Now I am the one speaking against our country. Not that I dont love the land of america, but I cannot stand the people deciding the fate of the nation.This news about Canada has me ecstatic and sad at the same time. I am happy that they finally see the light, yet saddened at how hard our nation resists it.This news has made up my mind. I am starting to apply for jobs in Vancouver. I cannot stand the hypocrasy and the lies and the propoganda anymore. Hopefully I will hear something soon, and be able to join the many americans who have also escaped the prosecution and insanity of big brother.SS 
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Comment #5 posted by John Tyler on December 13, 2002 at 09:45:50 PT
Why is Walters so hysterical?
You have to wonder about Walters mental state. I don't recall any previous "Drug Czars" getting so publically disturbed over basically a non issue. Canada is not going legal. They are just not going to jail small time users as often. They only thing that will be different is that fewer may get criminal records. Is that what Walters is mad about?It seems to me that Walters has no first hand knowledge of cannabis, and what he thinks he knows is wrong. 
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on December 13, 2002 at 08:46:08 PT
CTV.ca Videos
Hi Again Everyone,On the right hand side of this link are a few videos. Thought some of you might want to watch them so here they are.http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1039787244881_24/
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on December 13, 2002 at 08:30:04 PT
More Articles but fron Snipped Sources
Hi Everyone,Almost all of these articles can't be posted without snipping them so here is a link so you can check them out if you like. That makes it much easier for me to do it this way. http://www.canada.com/search/results.aspx?keywords=marijuana
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Comment #2 posted by fearfull on December 13, 2002 at 08:25:24 PT
What a crock!
It really irks me to no end, how the US thinks that it can throw its weight around and get any thing it wants, like a schoolyard bully. Walters threatens and expects the would to fall in line. I, for one, really hope and pray that the Canadians thumb there collective noses to the US and do what they know is right!
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Comment #1 posted by greenfox on December 13, 2002 at 08:21:07 PT
The REAL reefer madness
...is in our Czar. Think about it: we are trying to alter the natural path of a democracy. Of course, it's up to the Canuks to make sure that the US doesn't control their policies. 
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