cannabisnews.com: Canada Minister To Outline Pot Plan To Washington





Canada Minister To Outline Pot Plan To Washington
Posted by CN Staff on May 12, 2003 at 14:00:53 PT
By Reuters 
Source: Reuters 
Ottawa -- Canadian Justice Minister Martin Cauchon is due to travel to Washington on Tuesday to present his controversial plan to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana, a government spokesman said.Cauchon is expected to introduce his marijuana legislation this month, most likely this week, despite warnings from the Bush administration that this could force the United States to tighten its border with Canada.
Jim Munson, director of communications for Prime Minister Jean Chretien, said on Monday that Cauchon was scheduled to fly down on Tuesday to brief Washington on the plan, designed to ensure no one gets a criminal record for having small amounts of the drug. Jail terms would likely be replaced by fines.Cauchon says 100,000 of Canada's 30 million people use marijuana on a daily basis, and the current legislation is enforced scantily and unevenly.He already described the plan briefly to U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft last week at a Paris meeting of justice ministers of the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations. Source: Reuters UKPublished: May 12, 2003 Copyright: 2003 Reuters News ServiceWebsite: http://www.reuters.comContact: http://about.reuters.com/custhelp/Related Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmDetails of New Marijuana Bill Eagerly Awaitedhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16257.shtmlFor Sensible Marijuana Policy, Go Northhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16225.shtmlSenate Report on Cannabis: Get Whole Story http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14319.shtml 
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Comment #3 posted by RevHappy on May 12, 2003 at 16:01:28 PT:
Drug Tourism
I still appeal to Canada and Canadians alike to help encourage "Drug Tourism" between our two nations. By attracting patients and the devout, as well as those just looking to legally relax, Canada stands to make millions, and potentially, with all the hemp revenues, billions.
Busloads for Bonghits to Canada
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Comment #2 posted by malleus2 on May 12, 2003 at 15:21:18 PT
But the question remains
Namely, why should a ostensibly sovereign nation like Canada have to have their own legislation approved by the US?And, in an aside, why is it that the plan HAS to include punitive measures at all? I could see public intoxication as grounds for a citation, but why should the penalty for simple possession of weed be so much more than the one for public drunkeness?All this because of a bunch of tight-arsed old f*rts who probably have to drink themselves into a stupor at night because they can't face themselves and live with the wretched things they do to stay in power. I keep thinking about Nietzche's warning about being wary of people in whom the urge to punish is strong. The politicians in DC certainly seem like a sadistic bunch.
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on May 12, 2003 at 14:45:40 PT
Related Article from Reuters
Canada Minister To Outline Pot Plan to Ashcroft May 12, 2003 Ottawa -- Canadian Justice Minister Martin Cauchon will present his controversial plan to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana to U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft on Tuesday, officials said on Monday.Cauchon is expected to introduce his marijuana legislation this month, possibly this week, despite warnings from the Bush administration that this could force the United States to tighten its border with Canada.Washington had already expressed concern about the volume of Canadian marijuana shipments coming into theUnited States, and is now concerned the softer laws would mean a further rise.Cauchon is expected to stress to Ashcroft that marijuana will remain illegal, even if no longer criminal, and that Canada will toughen penalties substantially for marijuana-growing operations.The legislation is designed to ensure no one gets a criminal record for having small amounts of the drug. Jail terms would likely be replaced by fines.Cauchon says 100,000 of Canada's 30 million people use marijuana on a daily basis, and the current law is enforced scantily and unevenly.He already described the plan briefly to Ashcroft last week at a Paris meeting of justice ministers of the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations, but Tuesday's meeting will give a fuller explanation."The minister will press home the point that this is a policy whereby the possession of small amounts of marijuana will remain illegal," a government source said.The Canadian Police Association wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Jean Chretien last week voicing concern about the plans. Foremost among the concerns was the lack of legislation and tools to deal with drivers who are impaired by drugs.
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