cannabisnews.com: Canadian Prime Minister Promises Decrim Canadian Prime Minister Promises Decrim Posted by CN Staff on May 02, 2003 at 12:45:00 PT By Reverend Damuzi Source: Cannabis Culture "Don't start to smoke yet," chastised Prime Minister Chretien, speaking at a fundraiser where he announced plans to decriminalize marijuana by June, 2003. Who knows? Perhaps a few of the loudly applauding attendees rifled through their pockets for cigar-sized celebratory joints, but the Prime Minister's warning rang with a deeper irony, coming as it does on the eve of the Caine/Clay/Malmo-Levine Supreme Court case, the most potent constitutional challenge to Canada's marijuana laws ever. Last December, 2002, three days before the Caine/Clay/Malmo-Levine case was poised to smash prohibition forever, Justice Minister Cauchon promised to introduce legislation decriminalizing cannabis possession in the early months of 2003. Cauchon's promise never materialized, but the court case that could have torn up Canada's pot laws was put on hold until early May 2003. In the meantime, frustrated judges across the country began ruling marijuana laws unconstitutional. In March, 2003, in the wake of a flurry of pro-pot rulings, Cauchon again promised decriminalization, this time by the Summer, fueling speculation that he may be up to his old tricks, trying to delay the Caine/Clay/Malmo-Levine case yet again.That's why, now that Chretien is also promising decrim, many pot activists find the routine less convincing than a street dealer trying to sell a bag of catnip for 50 bucks. A disastrous history of broken promises doesn't make the catnip smell any closer to the real thing.Let's take a ride in the time machine way back to 1970, when Health Minister John Munroe promises that he will end jail terms for marijuana possession, and then backpedals embarrassingly the very next day. Moving forward a couple years to 1972, we find Canada's Le Dain Commission advising the government to reform drug laws, and this time Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau himself guarantees more enlightened laws, a confident assurance that he will repeat in 1980 - with the backing of Justice Minister Jean Chretien - and again in 1981, without ever making good on a single word. No wonder the word "politics" is considered synonymous with "BS" in so many circles.Even if Chretien makes good on his most recent promise, you may want to head his warning not to start smoking yet - at least in public. Justice Department spokesman Patrick Charette has announced that any new laws will be carefully crafted with the help of US authorities, throwing hopes for truly compassionate decriminalization laws almost totally out the window. Will decrim mean that you get a $1000 fine for a roach in the park? Or maybe a hundred lashes with the antenna some cop just broke off the hood of your car? For his part, Chretien admitted that lightening up on possession charges will be coupled with even harsher oppression of traffickers and growers. Remember, this is the same Liberal Government that pushed through Canada's current drug law, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, which was praised widely by the Canadian mainstream press as a "softer law", but which in reality gave cops the power to seize the homes of growers, entrap suspects, and put cannaphiles in courts without juries.Still, there are small victories. The Supreme Court of Canada has announced that there will be no further delays for the Caine/Clay/Malmo-Levine case, and perhaps drug-war weary judges will succeed where politicians have failed in ending the persecution of innocent people and plants that just want to get together and have a good time.- For the full scoop on possible changes to Canada's drug laws, read the next issue of Cannabis Culture Magazine.Note: Deal includes harsher oppression of dealers and growers. Newshawk: afterburnerSource: Cannabis Culture Author: Reverend DamuziPublished: May 01, 2003Copyright: 2003 Cannabis CultureContact: ccmag cannabisculture.com Website: http://www.cannabisculture.com/ DL:http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/2951.htmlRelated Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmCanada's Marijuana Control is Going Up in Smokehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16152.shtmlSupreme Court Will Hear Marijuana-Law Challenge http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16129.shtmlSupreme Court Delays Pot Appealhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14978.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by rchandar on May 03, 2003 at 02:14:31 PT: chretien i agree with the article. can't say i really trust politicians ever when it comes to drug war reform. when it comes to drugs legislation, almost all politicians are, basically, cowardly folk. now change happens IN SPITE OF the politicians, so keep the pressure on the canadian government.they just lack the balls to do anything, they're afraid of how they look on TV. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Prime on May 02, 2003 at 13:46:11 PT OT: Guess who's got another vice... Former chain smoker, current obese alchoholic Bill Bennett once again flys the "do as I say not as I do flag".http://www.msnbc.com/news/908430.asp?cp1=1Apparently Big Bill is a binge gambler. $8 million in loses over 10 years. But hey... he can control it man. Its us losers that need help and treatment. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on May 02, 2003 at 13:17:41 PT Thanks afterburner I'm still watching the program now but I wanted to comment on David Malmo-Levine. I want to say he did a fine job! I'm impressed! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by afterburner on May 02, 2003 at 12:56:07 PT: See and Hear It for Yourself. Prime Minister of Canada Pledges Decriminilization Prince of Pot with Pot-TV Running Time: 18 min Date Entered: 01 May 2003 Viewer Rating: 9.25 (9 votes) Number of Views: 841 Breaking News Coverage. PM Jean Chretien calls for decrimilization of cannabis by mid-June. US Drug Czar John Walter's reacts with horror, calling Canadian decrim and the possibility of increased bud-flow across the boarder "a form of chemical-warfare". Interview with activist and Pot-TV host David Malmo-Levine and Pot-TV Producer Marc Emery. http://www.pot-tv.net/ram/pottvshowse1939.ramego transcendence follows ego destruction, and suddenly there is no problem. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment