cannabisnews.com: Pot Legislation Expected Next Week: Reports 





Pot Legislation Expected Next Week: Reports 
Posted by CN Staff on May 10, 2003 at 11:26:26 PT
By CBC News Staff
Source: CBC
Toronto - The federal government could move as early as next week to decriminalize the possession of marijuana, two newspaper are reporting. A third newspaper, however, is reporting that possession will remain a criminal offence, but will not result in a criminal record. The Globe and Mail reported Saturday the government will unveil legislation to decriminalize possession of less than 15 grams of marijuana. People would instead be ticketed under the federal Contraventions Act, the report said. 
The National Post reported Saturday that the amount would be less than the 30 grams originally proposed, and would come concurrent with higher penalties for those who grow marijuana. The Toronto Star said the Liberals will still leave marijuana a criminal offence under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, which is the legislation that currently covers drug offences in Canada. However, people caught with a small amount would not get a criminal record, according to The Star's sources. The legislative move could come Thursday and would be accompanied by a national drug strategy. The U.S. government has made it clear it would be opposed to any move to decriminalize marijuana possession. Mike Niebudek of the Canadian Police Association told CBC Newsworld on Saturday that his organization is opposed to any liberalization of marijuana laws. A national drug strategy should be in place for a few years before the government considers any move to relax the laws, he said. "We have to address education. We have to address prevention and treatment before we even think about starting to change our laws," he said. Source: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Published:  May 10, 2003 Copyright: 2003 CBCWebsite: http://www.cbc.ca/Contact: cbcinput toronto.cbc.caRelated Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmNow, They Don't Like Our Marijuana Planhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16245.shtmlLiberals To Water Down Marijuana Billhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16244.shtmlOttawa Backs Off Pot Law Planshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16242.shtml
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Comment #6 posted by The GCW on May 10, 2003 at 17:55:44 PT
CONSEQUENCES OF PROHIBITION
RCMP FEARS GANG WARFARE OVER MARIJUANA OPERATIONS http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n686/a03.html?397 http://www.canada.com/vancouver/news/story.asp?id=FC809031-353A-493A-AF4E-83EACB7B3E72"The gradual arrival of Asian criminals in the marijuana-growing business in British Columbia originally raised serious concerns within the law-enforcement community about a potential all-out turf war with the Hells Angels," (To make the turf war bloodier, double the prison sentance for using cannabis, placing INCREASED the value on the commodity. The price will go up increasing profits and the blood needed to protect those increased profits. Thus to increase violence further still, bring on the death sentance for users and the likelyhood of the level of violence increases with the severety of the punishment. To decrease violence associated with a simple plant, end all punishment for using an herb. DUHHH.)
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Comment #5 posted by The GCW on May 10, 2003 at 16:49:19 PT
Cannabis Culture, perspective:
Canada's Supreme Court hears marijuana challenge http://www.hempbc.com/articles/2955.htmlWith additional insights and photos.
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Comment #4 posted by afterburner on May 10, 2003 at 16:24:51 PT:
Thanx for Posting the Letter, The GCW
I, too, have thought of the slavery inherent in the treatment of cannabis aficionados by the prohibitionists. Loretta Nall also pointed this out to the black police officer involved in her Alabama political bust for alleged cannabis. I actually expect more of this sort of attitude in a monarchy like Canada, than in the "land of the free," a supposed democracy. However, history repeats itself: the underground railroad filtered runaway slaves from the USA to Canada; now, cannabis refugees yearn for the freedom of the "great wise north." From north of the medicine line in the land of de facto decriminalization of cannabis possession of cultivation: ego transcendence follows ego destruction, heart by heart, until eventually there is no problem.
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on May 10, 2003 at 16:10:11 PT
Related CBC Video
http://www.cbc.ca/clips/ram-newsworld/perrin_niebudek030510.ram
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Comment #2 posted by The GCW on May 10, 2003 at 12:42:20 PT
good LTE
 LOGIC LACKING IN ANTI-POT LETTER Frank G. Sterle, Jr.'s letter ( May 1-7 issue ) displays typical anti-pot argumentation. He asserts that he knows it is bad, and that his friends know, too. He then produces a lengthy quotation from an authority to prove that it's bad ( but which really is a string of assertions ). He tells us that if we don't prohibit its consumption, we are legitimizing it and falsely implying that it's harmless. I could answer by disputing the claims of the authority or by rejecting the idea that if something is bad for you the government must ban it ( why not pop, fatty foods, bleach, or gasoline cars, then? ) but I won't. Lots of others have already, and far better than I could. Let me instead point out something missing from this argument: a moral consideration. People consuming marijuana are sovereign individuals, just like Mr. Sterle; no greater, no lesser. What I ask is, where did he--and so many politicians, policemen, community "leaders" etc.--come by the idea that the state should force their views--and at gunpoint, make no mistake about it--on appropriate consumption on those individuals? The philosophical base of this is not very nice; it's the idea that some people are so superior to others that they acquire rights of ownership, as though others were merely cattle, whose lives may be controlled and disposed of by the superior race. This smacks of 18th-century slaveholding, or far worse in the 20th. It's a moral obscenity, and I think any prohibitionist who doesn't so see himself ought to run far away from the movement before he gets tarred with that brush. I don't smoke pot, and I don't do any other drugs, either. That's my decision, for my body, and that's the only body I have any rights over. Other people's bodies belong to them, and not to me ( nor to Frank Sterle or Jean Chretien, or John Ashcroft ) so it is none of my goddamned business what they do with them. I also believe that people who think otherwise are far more harmful than all the drugs in the world. And that's why I am working with the BC Marijuana Party to end this horrendous practice before it is used to destroy us all. Rob Gillespie Financial agent, BCMP http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n684/a03.html?397
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Comment #1 posted by goneposthole on May 10, 2003 at 12:16:57 PT
education
"We have to address education."'prevention and treatment'relaxed cannabis laws will help prevent teenagers from mixing milk with gasoline.Cannabis will be the treatment.
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