cannabisnews.com: Pot’s Progress Pot’s Progress Posted by CN Staff on May 13, 2003 at 12:47:25 PT By Caroline Grech Source: Lindsay Daily Post Kawartha Lakes - The solution to the marijuana debate is simple, according to a local medicinal marijuana user. Steve - an assumed name - says Canada should establish a licencing program to allow people to grow pot, but should crack down on those who profit from its sale. Although he smokes marijuana regularly, to help him ease the pain of his terminal cancer, Steve doesn’t fit the image many would associate would with the user of a drug which continues to be illegal in Canada - at least for recreational purposes. Although his home houses a marijuana garden it also features family pictures and postcards from all over the world where Steve has travelled or lived. It’s neat and tidy. Steve was diagnosed with terminal cancer approximately five years ago and was given pharmaceutical drugs to ease the pain. Although the pharmaceutical drugs Marinol and Cesamet were prescribed to him by doctors to deal with the pain of his illness, too many side effects caused him to start using marijuana last year. “They were starting to chew up my liver, and they had side effects,” Steve said of the prescribed drugs. He describes his constant pain as sometimes so bad it “floors him”. He said in addition to the poor side effects, the drugs would not ease the pain of his cancer. “The pills don’t get you high. They don’t do anything for you. It was an uncontrolled effect. To me the pills are an uncontrolled thing I am putting into my body– I don’t know the effects right away, and I don’t know how long they are going to last,” he said. Replacing the pharmaceutical drugs with marijuana last year has improved his ability to deal with the pain. Just what amount will escape criminal prosecution remains to be seen however; the original quantity of 30 grams, originally suggested by Justice Minister Martin Cauchon, has faced increased criticism. Steve supports decriminalizing possession and proposes his own solution to the current debate on whether marijuana should be legalized in Canada. “To a point I agree with decriminalization–if you control it,” he told The Daily Post. As for legalizing marijuana use in Canada, Steve proposes using a licencing system, complete with background checks to allow people to use marijuana recreationally. “If you were to allow people in Canada to apply for a licence to use marijuana, like a firearms licence and pay $100 or $150 a year to the government, then the government would still make money.” Steve says all applicants would be subjected to a background check for any criminal history of violence or drug-related offences. If a person has a criminal history they would not be given a licence. Medicinal users would be exempt from the licencing fee. Steve explains the licence would allow for people to grow a maximum of 12 plants in an indoor environment. He argues by allowing people to grow plants in their own home, it removes the criminal element behind marijuana. “The licencing would take the criminal element out of selling marijuana. It would take the dollar value out of it. If you take away the dollar value you take away the criminal element,” Steve said. He is not only in favour of loosening marijuana laws, but also supports toughening up laws for those who take advantage of the revamped laws. “If people are going to traffic then you should go away for twenty years. Make the laws harsh, so that people know right up front, if you want to take that chance, you’re gone. That is a deterrent.” Steve, who has his own garden of marijuana plants in his home, says the vilification of marijuana use is misguided. “It has been around for thousands of years. Throughout history it is well known from the Mayans to the Babylonians that it is a medicinal herb,” Steve explains. He argues that as far as being addictive, pharmaceutical painkillers such as morphine are what people should be concerned about when. “What is addictive are pharmaceutical drugs such as morphine, any of those drugs doctors will give you.” Whether Steve’s proposal of a licencing system for marijuana use ever comes to fruition remains to be seen. This week may show just how far the Canadian government is willing to go in decriminalizing marijuana. Just what amount will escape criminal prosecution remains to be seen however; the original quantity of 30 grams, originally suggested by Justice Minister Martin Cauchon, has faced increased criticism. Steve supports decriminalizing possession and proposes his own solution to the current debate on whether marijuana should be legalized in Canada. “To a point I agree with decriminalization–if you control it,” he told The Daily Post. As for legalizing marijuana use in Canada, Steve proposes using a licencing system, complete with background checks to allow people to use marijuana recreationally. “If you were to allow people in Canada to apply for a licence to use marijuana, like a firearms licence and pay $100 or $150 a year to the government, then the government would still make money.” Steve says all applicants would be subjected to a background check for any criminal history of violence or drug-related offences. If a person has a criminal history they would not be given a licence. Medicinal users would be exempt from the licencing fee. Steve explains the licence would allow for people to grow a maximum of 12 plants in an indoor environment. He argues by allowing people to grow plants in their own home, it removes the criminal element behind marijuana. “The licencing would take the criminal element out of selling marijuana. It would take the dollar value out of it. If you take away the dollar value you take away the criminal element,” Steve said. He is not only in favour of loosening marijuana laws, but also supports toughening up laws for those who take advantage of the revamped laws. “If people are going to traffic then you should go away for twenty years. Make the laws harsh, so that people know right up front, if you want to take that chance, you’re gone. That is a deterrent.” Steve, who has his own garden of marijuana plants in his home, says the vilification of marijuana use is misguided. “It has been around for thousands of years. Throughout history it is well known from the Mayans to the Babylonians that it is a medicinal herb,” Steve explains. He argues that as far as being addictive, pharmaceutical painkillers such as morphine are what people should be concerned about when. “What is addictive are pharmaceutical drugs such as morphine, any of those drugs doctors will give you.” Whether Steve’s proposal of a licencing system for marijuana use ever comes to fruition remains to be seen. This week may show just how far the Canadian government is willing to go in decriminalizing marijuana. Note: Medicinal user says licencing would get crooks out of the marijuana trade.Source: Lindsay Daily Post (CN ON)Author: Caroline Grech Published: Monday, May 12, 2003 Copyright: 2003 Lindsay Daily PostWebsite: http://www.thepost.ca/Contact: lineditorial thepost.caRelated Articles & Web Site:Medical Marijuana Informations Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmGrown for Medicinal Purposeshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16258.shtmlCanadian Marijuana Ready for Trials http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16200.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Post Comment