cannabisnews.com: Voices: Decriminalizing Pot Voices: Decriminalizing Pot Posted by CN Staff on December 18, 2002 at 09:55:20 PT Comments Source: Toronto Star We asked you what you thought about the move afoot in the corridors of federal parliament to decriminalize the use of marijuana for those possessing less than 30 grams of the drug, as suggested by a parliamentary committee. Here are some of your comments:As an honest, productive, tax-paying citizen who is proud of being a contributing member of my society, I have always been a bit piqued at conservative attempts to portray marijuana smokers as criminals. All of the people I know who smoke marijuana are respectable taxpayers who actively contribute to the world around them. I've been smoking on and off for almost 35 years and have paid taxes, done volunteer work, adopted disadvantaged children through World Vision, given to charities and kept my faith in God pretty much the entire time. -Desmond Donnelly, Toronto, Dec. 18 I think that decriminalization of marijuana could be good for tax dollars, if they went so far as to completely legalize pot. If they don't at least decriminalize pot then the Toronto Police will continue to bust citizens on possession charges and waste time while they could be tracking down rapists, murderers, etc. -Jason White, Toronto, Dec. 18 And while we're at it, let's legalize prostitution, and cocaine, and heroin, and abortion. Oh yeah, we did that already, and pornography, and sex tourism, and let's have more brilliant advice from the Senate... -Kevin Topalian, Toronto, Dec. 18 Cannabis is a soft drug and shouldn't be looked down on in a way that people think its evil and that it leads to harder drugs. Cannabis is also a great way to expand the creativity of your mind and is a good way to achieve relaxation and stress reduction. My name is Julian Miranda. I am 16 years old and I support the use of marijuana -Julian Miranda, Mississauga, Dec. 18 It's about time someone sees the light. Measured against the amount of people convicted for possession (600,000) over the years, can you imagine the money and effort that dealt with it . -Attila Brontiu, Port Colbourne, Dec. 18 I say yes to legalizing marijuana, but with laws and rules we could all except. The laws for homebrewed beer could be used for homegrown pot. If you take your beer or pot off the property, it is decriminalized but still against the law. Bootlegging and trafficking are against the law and would stay illegal. This would give us control of our own homes and homegrown, and the law would still control the streets. -Ron McInnes, Orillia, Dec. 18 It's about time! This discussion is late in coming, but Canada is finally realizing that it isn't the government's place to legislate what I poison myself with, be it alcohol, cigarettes or marijuana. -Joel Balfour, Toronto, Dec. 18 If decriminalized, pot needs to be treated exactly the same as alcohol is today. For example, there needs to be a quick, easy and reliable way of determining if someone is impaired by pot, just like today's roadside breathalyzer. And that needs to be in place before decriminalization occurs! -Steve Hornett, Kitchener, Dec. 18 Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)Published: December 18, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Toronto Star Contact: lettertoed thestar.com Website: http://www.thestar.com/ Related Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmTime To Get Off The Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14986.shtmlHigh Time for Law Changehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14985.shtmlUnder The Maple Leaf: Pot Politics http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14973.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by The GCW on December 18, 2002 at 16:58:42 PT Kids say the darndest things.And they vote.They are talking out, even exposing their names... and that indicates even the kid against, is really for it...They seem more tuned in to the facts than American Youth. Could it be less brainwashing, in Cannada? [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Nasarius on December 18, 2002 at 15:18:49 PT Very nice... Only one person against, and he was incoherent :-) [ Post Comment ] Post Comment