cannabisnews.com: Canada To Press Ahead with Decriminalization Canada To Press Ahead with Decriminalization Posted by CN Staff on April 29, 2003 at 20:25:14 PT By Reuters Source: Ha`aretz Daily Ottawa - Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, setting the stage for another clash with the United States, said Tuesday he would soon introduce legislation to decriminalize the possession and cultivation of small amounts of marijuana. The announcement was the strongest indication yet Ottawa would follow through on a promise it made last year to relax laws so that people found guilty of possessing small amounts of marijuana would not get a criminal record. Chretien told a fund-raising dinner for the ruling Liberal Party that he did not intend to legalize marijuana and said he would press ahead with strategies designed to crack down on drug traffickers. "We are not afraid to take on controversial issues. It is the right thing to do. For example, we will soon introduce legislation to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana," he said to applause from the audience. Justice Minister Martin Cauchon, who was also at the dinner, told Reuters the new draft law would be introduced "as soon as possible" and definitely before Parliament broke for its summer recess in mid-June. The announcement was unlikely to win Chretien any new friends in Washington, which is still angry at Ottawa's decision not to send troops to Iraq and has repeatedly expressed concern about the increasing amount of potent Canadian marijuana flowing south across the long border. Cauchon is looking into a proposed system whereby people possessing and cultivating marijuana in amounts less than 1.1 ounces (30 grams) would receive a ticket - similar to that for a traffic violation - and a fine. About 20,000 Canadians a year are convicted for the use of marijuana. Advocates for change say that is unfair and represents an enormous waste of police resources that could be better spent fighting organized crime. "Some people, because of it [the existing law], might have a criminal record that will be a shadow over [them]... for the rest of their lives," Chretien said. "At the same time, we will have a drug strategy to discourage young people from using drugs and which will target drug traffickers." Last year, U.S. drug czar John Walters described relaxing marijuana laws as a dangerous and outdated idea and said if Ottawa went ahead, the United States might have to increase border security to clamp down on trafficking. That could deal a big blow to the Canadian economy, since more than 85 percent of its exports go to the United States. U.S. police say Canada, with an estimated illegal drug market of C$14 billion (U.S. $9.7 billion), has surpassed Mexico as a source of illegal drugs for the United States. Chretien joked with his audience it should not try to take advantage of the new law until it had been passed. "Don't start to smoke right away. We're not legalizing it, we're decriminalizing it. So you will have another ticket, not a traffic [ticket] but [one for] losing your senses, something like that." Complete Title: Canada To Press Ahead with Marijuana Decriminalization Source: Ha`aretz Daily (Israel)Published: April 30, 2003Copyright: 2003 Ha`aretz Contact: feedback haaretz.co.ilWebsite: http://www.haaretzdaily.com/ Related Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmFix Marijuana Controls http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16096.shtmlMadness Prevails in Governments Approachhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16091.shtml'Born in Hysteria' - London Free Presshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16073.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by The GCW on April 30, 2003 at 07:04:50 PT Isreal must stop prohibiting cannabis, Biblically! It's interesting that this news is hitting the Isreal newspaper. A long time ago it was said there would be perpetual incense... offer burnt offerings morning and evening, on sabbaths and on new moons and on the appointed feasts of the LORD our God, this being required forever in Israel. (this is not the only place where this is told)2 Chronicles 2:4, Why, if JAH was so opposed to high places, did He appear to Solomon in a dream and bless him with, “a wise and understanding heart…riches and honour”? I Kings 3:2 states the only reason for sacrificing in high places in this particular account was, “because there was no house built unto the name of the Lord”. Solomon had only been ANOINTED king in chapter 1, verse 39, and had had not even begun to build the temple. But, when he did actually begin, what did he say was the foremost thing he would do in dedicating this temple to JAH? 2 Chronicles 2:4, "Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, dedicating it to Him, to burn fragrant incense before Him and to set out the showbread continually, and to offer burnt offerings morning and evening, on sabbaths and on new moons and on the appointed feasts of the LORD our God, this being required forever in Israel. + It appears JAH was pleased with Solomon so far.http://www.drugpolicycentral.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=511 That is: High places exposed.Also: Jesus used cannabis or He is not the Christ. http://www.drugpolicycentral.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=219&sid=b1150ccfcedd6f75cc27dd21d21257794:28:3 Monday in prayer, it came to Me that the reason Isreal is having such strife is because of what was said a long long time ago. Is Isreals problems due to it's separation from the word on the 1st page of the Old Test. in that all the green is good. If Isreal continues to treat the green cannabis / kaney bosm as not good, their strife will only worsen.The following is unedited, but is some thoughts...Isaiah 5:8-30 subtitled “Woes for the Wicked” seems to be talking about cannabis prohibitionists; Isaiah 5:10, speaks of both the wine and the grain, but seems to go on to dis. only the wine... "For ten acres of vineyard will yield only one bath of wine, And a homer of seed will yield but an ephah of grain."Isaiah 5:16-17, But the LORD of hosts will be exalted in judgment, And the holy God will show Himself holy in righteousness. Then the lambs will graze as in their pasture, Isaiah 5:18, “Woe to those who drag iniquity with the cords of falsehood (that would include cannabis prohibition and those who contemplate it), And sin as if with cart ropes”;Isaiah 5:20, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! (that would include cannabis prohibition and those who contemplate it).Isaiah 5:23, (Woe to those) Who justify the wicked for a bribe, And take away the rights of the ones who are in the right! (that would include cannabis prohibition and those who contemplate it).Isaiah 5:24, “...For they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel”. (The word of God IS the law and the law on the very 1st page says all plants are good). As I read this it makes Me want to ask if the Jews are getting wrathe because they discount cannabis? Because that is what is happening. Those people wanting to relegalize cannabis in Jewesalem are attempting more than they know. We often ask why does America support Isreal? Could it be because of the importance in having ISREAL suppporting cannabis prohibition on biblical proportions? The whole Isaiah 5:24 seems to say because of it and it is in addition to what is already said and what is about to be said.Isaiah 5:25, “On this account the anger of the LORD has burned against His people, And He has stretched out His hand against them and struck them down... But His hand is still stretched out. (HE will still redeam those whom turn toward Him and His Truth).This area of the Bible is subtitled “Woes for the Wicked”, and there is also a list named the 8 Woes, somewhere that would most certainly also denounce the prohibition of cannabis and the caging of man, (which is the temple of God), for using cannabis. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by WolfgangWylde on April 30, 2003 at 04:39:45 PT I guess... ...you have to grow really small plants. Bonsai Indica, perhaps?Anyway, I think Cauchon's statements are pure BS, meant to de-rail the Supreme Court case. He's not going to do anything until the Courts absolutely force it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on April 29, 2003 at 21:28:12 PT How Can This Be Possible? Cauchon is looking into a proposed system whereby people possessing and cultivating marijuana in amounts less than 1.1 ounces (30 grams) would receive a ticket - similar to that for a traffic violation - and a fine. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment