cannabisnews.com: Softening Pot Laws Will Irk U.S.





Softening Pot Laws Will Irk U.S.
Posted by CN Staff on May 01, 2003 at 09:32:04 PT
By Kathleen Harris, Sun Ottawa Bureau
Source: Edmonton Sun
Ottawa -- Softening up Canada's pot laws will be one more "irritant" to harm relations with the U.S., opposition members charge. Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen Harper urged the Liberal government to postpone its plan to decriminalize marijuana yesterday, insisting more time is needed to heal the wounds from Canada's stand on the Iraq war and series of anti-American comments.
"The Americans view the possession of 30 grams as potential trafficking, and we share some of those concerns," he said. Harper was reacting to Prime Minister Jean Chretien's announcement this week that legislation to decriminalize possession of up to 30 grams of marijuana will be tabled before the summer recess. The Alliance supports decriminalization, but only for a small stash of up to five grams. John Walters, director of the White House office of National Drug Control Policy, said decriminalization made little sense and would not cut crime. "When you make the penalties minimal you get more drug use, you get more drug addiction, you get more drug production, you get more drug crime," he told CBC television from Washington. Justice Minister Martin Cauchon tried to allay concerns of U.S. backlash by stressing that decriminalization is part of an "overall policy" that will include ramped-up prevention tactics and tough enforcement measures. "The message we want to send is a much better and stronger message to the fact that marijuana is illegal in Canada," he said. "It's the same in the U.S., the same here." A CANOE/CNEWS online poll of more than 5,000 readers yesterday found 69% in favour of decriminalization compared with 27% who were opposed. Complete Title: Softening Pot Laws Will Irk U.S.: OppositionSource: Edmonton Sun (CN AB) Author: Kathleen Harris, Sun Ottawa BureauPublished: Thursday, May 1, 2003 Copyright: 2003 Canoe Limited PartnershipContact: letters edm.sunpub.comWebsite: http://www.fyiedmonton.com/htdocs/edmsun.shtmlRelated Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmU.S. Says Canada Cares Too Much About Liberties http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16130.shtmlU.S. Irked by PM's Pot Decriminalization Planshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16124.shtmlU.S. Unhappy About Canadian Law on Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16119.shtml 
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