cannabisnews.com: Ottawa Backs Off Pot Law Plans Ottawa Backs Off Pot Law Plans Posted by CN Staff on May 10, 2003 at 07:43:02 PT By Tonda MacCharles, Ottawa Bureau Source: Toronto Star Ottawa -- The federal government has backed off plans to make pot possession a mere ticketing offence, the Star has learned. Instead, sources say the Liberal government will keep simple possession of marijuana on the books as a criminal offence under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. The new plan came days after U.S. officials warned that any easing of Canada's marijuana laws could lead to a crackdown at border crossings. The government will provide "alternative" civil penalties — fines, not jail — upon conviction and will leave enforcement and the collection of fines to the provinces. Under the new scheme, a person convicted of possessing a small amount of pot would not register a criminal record, according to insiders. The move, part of a renewed National Drug Strategy that could be tabled next week, will also include tougher measures to target illegal marijuana growing operations, including the doubling of penalties for drug trafficking, sources said.The Liberals are also expected to direct more money towards efforts to target traffickers.The Chrétien government triggered outrage among officials in the Bush administration with months of musing publicly about the "decriminalization" of marijuana. Within the Liberal caucus, some cabinet ministers and backbench MPs have also opposed the move.Last week, U.S. drug czar John Walters suggested border traffic would slow to a crawl because the U.S. would increase inspections to stop smugglers from illegally shipping "poison" south.Will Glaspy, a U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency spokesman, told The Detroit News yesterday that talk of decriminalizing pot in Canada would mean "more customs, more border patrols, more DEA. For Canada to decriminalize or legitimize marijuana means a greater availability of marijuana in Canada, which is going to cause individuals and organizations to try and smuggle the drug into the United States.''The revised plan will allow Ottawa to remain in good stead with the international conventions it has signed on drug trafficking and signal to the United States it is not "softening" its laws, while still ushering in a new approach to enforcing prohibitions against pot.Justice Minister Martin Cauchon, fresh from a meeting of G-8 justice ministers, refused comment on the timing and substance of the proposals. "It will be a policy where you will find a reform of the cannabis law and at the same time the renewal of the national drug strategy," Cauchon said in an interview. "What we want to do with that new policy, is to send a better message to the population that the use of cannabis is illegal in our society, harmful to our society (and) be more effective on the enforcement side."He acknowledged he broadly outlined where Canada wanted to go in a brief conversation with his American counterpart, U.S. Attorney-General John Ashcroft, on Monday at the G-8 justice ministers' meeting, but said Ashcroft did not voice strong opposition to him. "We have a very good co-operation with the United States. The two countries have the very same vision, heading in the same direction as regards the fight against the use of drugs, organized crime, terrorist activities and all that."Cauchon said Canada, like other G-8 countries with similar laws, is in the position of having "a piece of legislation which is deemed to be criminal ... that you are not able to enforce, knowing the amount of people that are using cannabis on a daily basis."The result of all that is that you have kids using cannabis knowing that it's criminal but we don't enforce it when you get caught with five or 10 grams, for example. So, at the end of the day, there's a high disregard for the justice system. It's not the message I want to send to our people. The message I want to send to our people is that it is illegal, harmful to our society, and therefore I want to make sure that we will develop a piece of legislation that we're going to be able to enforce."He said two parliamentary committee reports last year — the Senate urged outright legalization while a Commons committee called for decriminalization — "send the message it's time for the government as well as for Canadian society to deal with that question." Note: Possession to stay criminal offence. Changes come after U.S. outcry.Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)Author: Tonda MacCharles, Ottawa BureauPublished: May 10, 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.htmOttawa's Marijuana Plan Irks US http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16241.shtmlFor Sensible Marijuana Policy, Go Northhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16225.shtml Senate Report on Cannabis: Get Whole Story http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14319.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #8 posted by John Tyler on May 11, 2003 at 07:06:39 PT Arm twisting Wow, the US did some real arm twisting behind the scenes didn't they? The US gov. is really scared of new ideas. I hope the Canadian Superme Court can come to the rescue and declare their law null and void. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by drfistusa on May 10, 2003 at 12:00:30 PT: it's about symbols/religion did you ever hear of nazis smoking pot, no the beer hall worked for them! and all neighboring countries had to be part of it or else!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on May 10, 2003 at 09:41:46 PT JHarshaw Thank You! I need to stop thinking about why our country does what it does and realize that it still could be a good thing. If we quit now I just don't know what will happen. I am not a doom and gloom type person and thinking negatively like I have this morning isn't the way I like to think. We shall overcome someday! [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by JHarshaw on May 10, 2003 at 09:38:22 PT Strangely pleased Hi everyone.This announcement is really not all that suprising considering the nonsense we've all seen from politicians before, however I think this step backwards will actually turn out to put more pressure on the Supreme Court Justices to scrap the prohibition of Cannabis in Canada once and for all.Peace and Pot [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by afterburner on May 10, 2003 at 08:42:49 PT: Let's Get Real. The good news: "fines, not jail"; "a person convicted of possessing a small amount of pot would not register a criminal record"The bad news: "conviction"; "tougher measures to target illegal marijuana growing operations, including the doubling of penalties for drug trafficking"Again: where is the legal access for medical cannabis patients that the courts demanded? Cauchon said in an interview, "What we want to do with that new policy, is to send a better message to the population that the use of cannabis is illegal in our society, harmful to our society (and) be more effective on the enforcement side." Our best hope is the courts. The Parliament and the Justice Minister just don't get it!ego transcendence follows ego destruction, heart by heart, and eventually there is no problem. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on May 10, 2003 at 08:09:25 PT I'm Very Upset I really don't want to say how angry I am. I try really hard to keep my frustration to myself but this has me seeing red. I was thinking when I woke up this morning how good it is too see Canada standing and being a leader to help those who have been persecuted by Cannabis Laws and now this. I'm very upset. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by The GCW on May 10, 2003 at 07:57:54 PT The USA rules Canada! There isn't going to be any cannabis law reform as long as the Americans rule Canada!Canadians better know they are run by the United States!What We say goes!You better do exactly as We say, or else!If You don't continue caging humans for using a plant, We'll "F" You up! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Rainbow on May 10, 2003 at 07:48:08 PT Wimps Well you all in canda it looks like you are now at the beck and call of the USA.Sorry that you now have to join this asshole government. We had a good one before the religious wrong took over.Too bad I had hopes for people to be strong and tell the USA they are full of BS. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment