cannabisnews.com: Tough Law 'Will Force Pot Price Up'





Tough Law 'Will Force Pot Price Up'
Posted by CN Staff on May 11, 2003 at 10:47:02 PT
By Shane Holladay -- Edmonton Sun
Source: Edmonton Sun
Legislation expected this week to decriminalize simple possession of pot will drive up prices and attract hardcore criminal elements to the trade, say marijuana advocates. Recent media reports say the federal government will introduce legislation by the end of the week aimed at making possession of less that 15 grams of pot a ticketing offence. Federal sources said the new law would simultaneously crack down on the trafficking and production of marijuana. 
Because pot is so cheap to produce, price is determined by the amount of risk involved in selling it, said Munir Ahmad of the Edmonton Compassion Network, a group that distributes marijuana to people who have licences to use it. "Right now, getting high is definitely a lot cheaper than doing a lot of other things, like going to the (West Edmonton Mall) waterpark, or a movie for that matter," he said. Munir said prices actually rose after pot was decriminalized in Amsterdam. Tougher penalties for dealers will push prices up here as serious jail time becomes a reality, he said. "If the government is really serious about increasing penalties against people who are trafficking, they're contradicting themselves. Why would they allow consumption, but punish providers more seriously?" B.C. Marijuana Party president Marc Emery called decriminalization a "fraud." "No one caught with under 15 grams is really suffering criminal sanctions anyway," he said. Tough laws will force street prices up, which will increase market competition and attract a more ruthless and violent breed of criminal, Emery said. "So really, the situation has been made worse." Edmonton police Sgt. Glen Hayden, vice-president of the Alberta Federation of Police Associations, said cops need a clearer message from the federal government. "This is a blindside, coming right out of the blue," Hayden said yesterday after hearing reports about the law. "The government committed itself to putting the cart ahead of the horse. At least that's our position." Only the timing of the proposed legislation is new here. Federal Justice Minister Martin Cauchon floated the decriminalization idea months ago. Then, retiring Prime Minister Jean Chretien announced in late April he would decriminalize pot before leaving office. Reports suggest the federal government backed away from an initial plan to decriminalize possession of less than 30 grams, to avoid a diplomatic backlash from the U.S. Federal Health Minister Anne McLellan stressed yesterday in Edmonton that decriminalizing will come part and parcel with a new national drug strategy. "My line is very clear as minister of health," said McLellan. "It's around information, education, treatment, support for people, making sure we're not sending messages to young people that smoking marijuana is OK, because it isn't. "We're sending the message that this is not a good thing. We are not legalizing it." Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB) Author: Shane Holladay -- Edmonton SunPublished:  Sunday, May 11, 2003  Copyright: 2003 Canoe Limited PartnershipContact: letters edm.sunpub.comWebsite: http://www.fyiedmonton.com/htdocs/edmsun.shtmlRelated Articles & Web Sites:B.C. Marijuana Partyhttp://www.bcmarijuanaparty.ca/Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmNow, They Don't Like Our Marijuana Planhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16245.shtmlOttawa's Marijuana Plan Irks US http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16241.shtml 
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #2 posted by freedom fighter on May 11, 2003 at 14:22:28 PT
The day the court jester stole the thorny crown
"My line is very clear as minister of health," said McLellan. "It's around information, education, treatment, support for people, making sure we're not sending messages to young people that smoking marijuana is OK, because it isn't. In another word, let's send a message to young people that smoking cigarettes is OK and it is OK to send human beings in JAIL for smoking markjuana.What's so healthy about sending a human being in a cage for growing cannabis? How does it improves the society? Ms. McAllen had better start to realize something. If you choose to go the path of persecuting your neighbors for smoking marijuana, you will end up just like it is in United States of America. In America, we have the largest prison population. We spent more on prisons than on education or health. It is a promise that Canada will go bankrupt very quickly if they so choose the America's path.Is that what the common folks in Canada wants? Do they really want their lives be governed by someone who does not eat very healthy and is very fat living in a white house tarnised by soo many lies??I have no more hope for courts or for the politicians anymore. There just no common sense in their bones and that is what makes them downright dangerous to my health or yours!Reminds me of a song "Miss America Pie",........... Now for ten years we've been on our own,
and moss grows fat on a rolling stone
but that's not how it used to be
When the jester sang for the king and queen
in a coat he borrowed from James Dean
in a voice that came from you and meAnd while the king was looking down,
the jester stole his thorny crown
The courtroom was adjourned,
no verdict was returnedAnd while Lennon read a book on Marx,
the quartet practiced in the park
And we sang dirges in the dark
the day the music diedwe were singin'http://www.lyricsdownload.com/cgi-bin/frames.cgi?http://www.lyricsdownload.com/data/d/don_mclean/don_mclean_american_pie.php4?r=1 http://www.adrian.smith.clara.net/music/DMcL_ap.MP3 pazff
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by unknown pleasures on May 11, 2003 at 13:22:05 PT
...
you know, for a moment there it looked like these politicians might actually do something sane for once. 
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment