cannabisnews.com: Pot Support in Full Flower





Pot Support in Full Flower
Posted by CN Staff on February 21, 2003 at 06:32:53 PT
By Bill Rodgers -- Sun Ottawa Bureau
Source: Edmonton Sun
Ottawa -- The country is going to pot. According to an SES/Sun Media poll, 69% of Canadians favour the decriminalization of possession of small amounts of marijuana. The survey found that Canadians who were teenagers during the "flower power" sixties were the group most likely to support easing our pot laws.
Among age groups, it showed that 76% of Canadians between the ages of 50 and 59 support decriminalization while 72% of the 40 to 49 age group agree the laws against smoking dope should be relaxed. The poll surveyed 1000 people between Feb. 2 and Feb. 11. The poll is accurate plus or minus 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. There was strong support for decriminalization in every region. Only 25% of those responding to the survey opposed our marijuana possession laws going up in smoke. "The opinions of Canadians may have been influenced by numerous media stories related to the therapeutic use of marijuana for cancer patients," said SES President Nik Nanos. Liberal, Tory and Alliance MPs say pot shouldn't be considered a harmless recreational drug even though a Senate committee last fall recommended legalizing the smoking of pot for anybody older than 16. Doing so would make Canada one of the most cannabis-friendly nations in the world. The committee called the present criminal laws on possession of weed outdated. At the time, the Canadian Police Association lashed out at the recommendation, calling it "a back-to-school gift for drug pushers." Justice Minister Martin Cauchon doesn't plan to make the drug legal but favours a fine instead of a prison sentence for the possession of 30 grams of weed for personal use. Toronto-area Grit MP (Pickering-Ajax-Uxbridge) Dan McTeague says there needs to be a national debate on the issue. "As if we have not had the lesson of the destruction that alcohol has reeked on families," he said. "Do we need another form of mind-bending products that are going to ruin people's lives?" "It's wrong to go down that road," said Tory MP Elsie Wayne. Alliance Justice critic Chuck Cadman called decriminalization a confusing message for young people because the government is also telling them not to get involved with drugs. "Then on the other hand we send them a message from the Parliament of Canada: 'Well, what the hell, we'll decriminalize it anyway.' It's just that young people take that kind of a message the wrong way," said Cadman. Today, the federal government is appealing the Jan. 3 Ontario court decision that possession of small amounts of marijuana is not illegal. Note: New poll shows 69% back decriminalization.Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB) Author: Bill Rodgers -- Sun Ottawa BureauPublished:   Friday, February 21, 2003 Copyright: 2003 Canoe Limited PartnershipContact: sun.letters ccinet.ab.ca Website: http://www.fyiedmonton.com/htdocs/edmsun.shtmlRelated Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmIs Canada Going To Pot? http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15037.shtmlWe Make Our Own Laws in Canada http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15032.shtmlDecriminalize Marijuana Now http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14996.shtml 
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Comment #7 posted by Big Trees on February 21, 2003 at 17:38:47 PT
These PM's are a joke...
"Then on the other hand we send them a message from the Parliament of Canada: 'Well, what the hell, we'll decriminalize it anyway.' It's just that young people take that kind of a message the wrong way," said Cadman. This guy is a joke... Wrong message? Maybe he should look at the message his government taxed alcohol companies are putting out there... beer=fun... Captian Morgan=girls...Molson Canadian=great hockey games. Go to your local liqour store and take a look at some of the signs and the messages they give Mr. Cadman. Your excuse is a poor one at best. Pretty ironic that you would put a statment like that one above with your co-part Dan McTeague making a statment like this one...
"As if we have not had the lesson of the destruction that alcohol has reeked on families," he said. "Do we need another form of mind-bending products that are going to ruin people's lives?" Let us think for ourselfs.
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Comment #6 posted by Virgil on February 21, 2003 at 17:04:50 PT
On Ashcroft
Following is the first 4 paragraphs from http://www.sunspot.net/news/opinion/bal-ed.ashcroft21feb21,0,7002149.story?coll=bal%2Dopinion%2Dheadlines in an article titled "Exceeding expectations" originally published February 21, 2003PLENTY OF John Ashcroft's former Senate colleagues had misgivings when George W. Bush nominated him to be attorney general. They knew him to be more ideological than intellectual, more judgmental than judicious, and altogether more small-minded than what might be hoped for in a candidate for the top domestic Cabinet post. Yet Mr. Ashcroft has not merely lived up to his colleagues' expectations during his first two years in office, he has wildly exceeded them, as documented in a recent profile by The Sun's Michael Hill. He is the nation's chief law enforcement officer, but seems intent on bending both the law and the Constitution to his will. 
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on February 21, 2003 at 16:20:10 PT
BGreen
I was talking about the explosion of the refinery. It had to scare people again. The explosion and smoke had to bring back bad memories for many people. People will see how Ashcroft is and many are already.
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Comment #4 posted by BGreen on February 21, 2003 at 15:53:11 PT
FoM?
Are you referring to the Staten Island refinery fire or did I miss something?By the way, a couple of members of the editorial staff of The Springfield News-Leader, John Ashcrofts' home town newspaper, have written articles slamming Ashcroft and his assault on our rights.Considering the way that paper has always had their lips firmly placed on Ashcrofts' rear end this is a big turning point.Now, if we can only get them to see how evil Ashcroft has been to sick people.Bud Green***********************************************************Ashcroft draft trades rights for 'security'http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/opinions/leger021603.htmlAmericans’ privacy under siege — from U.S. Justice Department http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/opinions/Overstreet021803.html
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on February 21, 2003 at 09:00:26 PT
To CNews New Yorkers
I hope everyone is ok and this new disaster doesn't cause more chaos in the city.
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Comment #2 posted by Virgil on February 21, 2003 at 08:18:32 PT
Can U say cannabi? Can U say cannabis prohibition?
while 72% of the 40 to 49 age group agree the laws against smoking dope should be relaxed.The only place you ever hear cannabis called dope is in the newpaper. It's a sure sign this is a pothead blah blah blah article. 
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Comment #1 posted by ErikGhint on February 21, 2003 at 08:05:36 PT
today is the big day!!
I can't wait to see what happens in the big court case today. Good luck Canada!!
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