cannabisnews.com: Chrétien Ready To Ease Pot Possession Law Chrétien Ready To Ease Pot Possession Law Posted by CN Staff on April 30, 2003 at 09:18:21 PT By Andrew Chung, Ottawa Bureau Source: Toronto Star Ottawa — Calling his government "activist" and "not afraid to take on controversial issues," Prime Minister Jean Chrétien cast a nod at youth last night and vowed that marijuana would soon be decriminalized.It was the first public pronouncement from Chrétien that possessing small quantities of marijuana would be decriminalized in Canada. "We will soon introduce legislation to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana," he told a Liberal party fundraiser. Amid applause, he quipped, "Don't start to smoke it right away! We're not legalizing it."Chrétien said that, in his youth, marijuana wasn't known. "I never tasted it." But he smoked cigarettes, when his father told him not to. "When he gave me permission at 16, I stopped."Youth today are charged criminally for possession of marijuana. "Some might have a criminal record that will be a shadow over his (her) life for years to come," the Prime Minister said. That makes decriminalization important so "young people do not have unnecessary criminal records for the rest of their lives."Chrétien was speaking to 1,000 Liberal supporters, MPs, senators and corporate tables at the $500 a plate annual Maple Leaf Dinner in the capital. He could barely begin speaking after being moved by a specially prepared "legacy" video, highlighting his 40-year political career, set to Frank Sinatra's crooning, "I did it my way."Chrétien glowingly paraded his government's record since last fall's throne speech, implementing, he noted, the Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse gases and the new $34.8 billion health accord with the provinces. He said the February budget was the most activist social policy budget since Liberals took office in 1993.Perhaps his most activist measure will be the easing of Canada's pot laws. For months, Justice Minister Martin Cauchon has hinted the government would bring in legislation to remove the criminal stigma from personal possession. The bill is expected in June. Chrétien indicated last night the system he favours is one where possession becomes a simple ticketing offence.The bill would be accompanied by more resources to combat drug trafficking. As far back as 30 years ago, when Chrétien was in Pierre Trudeau's cabinet, the Le Dain commission urged liberalization of marijuana laws. Chrétien gave no indication of concern that such law might further chill Canada-U.S. relations. President George W. Bush's drug czar John Walters has blamed Canadian growers and smugglers for the high-strength pot on U.S. streets. But the Canadian Medical Association and the Canadian Chiefs of Police support decriminalization. Note: Applause greets promise to youth 'We're not legalizing it'Newshawk: afterburnerSource: Toronto Star (CN ON)Author: Andrew Chung, Ottawa BureauPublished: April 30, 2003Copyright: 2003 The Toronto Star Contact: lettertoed thestar.com Website: http://www.thestar.com/ Related Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmPM Renews Promise To Ease Pot Possession Laws http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16108.shtmlPM Says Pot Soon To Be Decriminalized http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16107.shtmlSenate Report on Cannabis: Get Whole Story http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14319.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by druid on April 30, 2003 at 10:05:12 PT another poll to OWN! http://www.canoe.ca/CANOE PollShould possession of small amounts of pot be decriminalized?YesNoNot sureDon't careCurrent Results:CNEWS PollShould possession of small amounts of pot be decriminalized?Total Votes for this Question: 4102So far, 69% have voted for YesSo far, 27% have voted for NoSo far, 2% have voted for Not sureSo far, 2% have voted for Don't care [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by The GCW on April 30, 2003 at 09:43:01 PT Terrorism begins/ends in Israel: Prohibition is now proven to be the culprit!by Joe Shadwick Sunday April 27, 2003 at 04:46 PMThere has been a mis-information campaign by the US government that began in 1937 and now like Baghdad Bob did during his information speaches in Iraq the DEA's office claims marijuana is more harmful than heroin. Reality is no longer an option or reality would have ended prohibition years ago. The real culprit in this ignored but yet costly war on drugs is prohibition itself. Abraham Lincoln once said "Prohibition goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation, and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes." The US started prohibition and has pushed it off onto the world globally. Through the UN the US has pushed prohibition on the people of every country in the world. Sactioned are threatened if other countries choose to even try other options. The big picture with prohibition is that it does exactly what alcohol prohibition did in the 1920's as it fuels crime like an oil well on fire. If one would try to really see through prohibition and go beyond it then they might just realize that those who are in high places rely on prohibition for a pay check. If drug prohibition was repealed then the drug czar and a huge amount of undercover narcotics agents would be jobless. I could rant forever on this subject but it is useless with today's society being brainwashed with mis-information for 66 years by the creators of prohibition the US government. But I will say this! The drug war is useless to the common american taxpayer. As they get less education, less rehabilitation, less help for the real needy, but they do get a police state with lots of policemen but alot less liberties that american's should have. In all reality it appears that drug usage should be looked at as a society health problem and treated as one. Incarcerating whole state populations will never accomplish anything! Pull your head out americans! Repeal prohibition and it will no longer be cool to do drugs! After all kids won't take likely to being called a health problem vs. a criminal!http://sf.indymedia.org/news/2003/04/1603174_comment.phpUS drug-war ads say drugs fund terrorism. Terrorism begins/ends in Israel: CANNABIS PROHIBITION begins/ends in Israel: CANNABIS PROHIBITION is a Biblical issue. The Green Collar Worker [ Post Comment ] Post Comment