cannabisnews.com: Day Warns of U.S. Backlash on Marijuana





Day Warns of U.S. Backlash on Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on December 16, 2002 at 08:40:17 PT
By Robert Fife, Ottawa Bureau Chief 
Source: National Post 
Canada's softening stance on marijuana and hard drugs will provoke a backlash in the U.S. Congress that would lead to harsher border measures on Canadian travellers and cause serious economic consequences for the economy, warns Stockwell Day, the Canadian Alliance foreign affairs critic.Mr. Day told the National Post the Alliance supports making simple possession of five grams of marijuana a summary-conviction offence, with a far less serious punishment.
But he believes the Liberal government's plan to decriminalize possession and cultivation of less than 30 grams is going too far.Mr. Day said decriminalization of even 30 grams -- which equals about 50 joints -- amounts to legalizing use and trafficking of the drug.If the Liberal government proceeds with decriminalization, Mr. Day said it will result in U.S. border harassment of Canadian travellers and delays in the flow of the 85% of Canadian exports sent to the United States, worth US$1.5-billion a day."The Liberal approach to changing the definition of possession is going to create problems related to the border issues," Mr. Day said.Mr. Day said the move to decriminalize marijuana coupled with the new Vancouver Mayor's decision to open drug injection clinics for heroin addicts will lead to tougher border inspections that will clog up exports and the flow of Canadians into the United States."The overall approach of softening our stance on drug use in Canada is alarming our American allies. We should be in discussion with them. I'm sure they are also concerned about the trend to legalized drug rooms or injection sites which are going to increasingly lead to a softening on our approach to hard drugs also."U.S. drug czar John Walters and Paul Cellucci, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, have already warned that loosening the drug laws in Canada will trigger tighter border security. Snipped:Complete Article: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/dw.htm Source: National Post (Canada)Author: Robert Fife, Ottawa Bureau Chief Published: Monday, December 16, 2002Copyright: 2002 Southam Inc.Contact: letters nationalpost.comWebsite: http://www.nationalpost.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmDecriminalization of Cannabis Makes Sensehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14992.shtmlU.S. Fears Cda. Becoming a Major Pot Supplierhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14988.shtmlLoosen Pot Laws and Face Tighter Border http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14969.shtml
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Comment #3 posted by Unknown Pleasures on December 17, 2002 at 11:12:29 PT
ummmm...
So I guess from now on we should consult the US on our DOMESTIC policies. Do they ask for Canada's opinion on Amerikan domestic proposals before they implement them? Didn't think so.Oh, I forgot, they like to bomb people. We better listen to what they say. 
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Comment #2 posted by freddybigbee on December 17, 2002 at 10:00:27 PT:
Words have specific meanings, Mr. Day...
"Mr. Day said decriminalization of even 30 grams -- which equals about 50 joints -- amounts to legalizing use and trafficking of the drug." Huh? Do English words have different meanings when spoken North of the border? Here's the difference: legalization would eliminate most of the law-enforcement problems and the problem of citizens being harrassed by their government for using an herb they find beneficial. Legalization says it's noone's business (except when people drive badly while high). Decriminalization does not eliminate law-enforcement problems, nor does it end the despicable fraud of persecuting humans for using plants of their choice. As for decrim amounting to legalizing trafficking, get real! I live in a decrim state, and believe me, traffickers get arrested and go to jail, minus most of their assets."The overall approach of softening our stance on drug use in Canada is alarming our American allies." Correction, it is alarming the people who are paid to wage war against a plant; a small segment of the US govt. It doesn't worry the vast majority of citizens. You forget, the US govt. doesn't come close to speaking for it's citizens on this (or many other) issues.
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Comment #1 posted by pokesmotter on December 16, 2002 at 09:01:46 PT:
what is day afraid of??
Seems to me like this guy thinks canada shouldnt decriminalize because of the U.S. saying it is a bad idea. It's just what our government wants. They want nothing to change. They want drug laws here and in canada to remain the same. They want drug laws to remain unchanged when society is changing. It just doesn't make sense.
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