cannabisnews.com: U.S. Briefed on Ottawa's Marijuana Law Plans U.S. Briefed on Ottawa's Marijuana Law Plans Posted by CN Staff on May 14, 2003 at 06:58:53 PT By The CTV.ca News Staff Source: CTV Opposition leaders are irritated that U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft has heard the details of the government's controversial plan to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana before the law is even presented in Parliament.Justice Minister Martin Cauchon met with Ashcroft Tuesday to brief him on the government's plan. "There goes Canadian sovereignty up in smoke,'' complained NDP Leader Jack Layton. "Here's the American government advising on what Canadian policy will be before the House of Commons even has a look at it. It's quite astounding.''Conservative leader Joe Clark agreed that Cauchon should have come to Parliament "before he went trotting off to the White House." And Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe wondered why it was so important to "obtain the permission of Washington."Before he left for Washington, Cauchon told reporters he was confident his ideas would be well received in Washington."I think both countries are moving in the same direction," Cauchon told reporters. "We want to maintain the illegal use of drugs in our countries. We want to ensure that we can send a positive message to Canadians. "And we also want ensure that we can enforce the law. And that's what we're doing here. That's what we will continue to do."Cauchon's office said the meeting with Ashcroft was private and would not discuss what the pair spoke about. But it was expected Cauchon would stress that although the penalties for possession would be changing, marijuana would remain illegal.Cauchon briefed the Liberal cabinet on the proposal Tuesday ahead of his trip to Washington. He said he would be consulting his caucus on Wednesday and will then "make the decision as to when we will move forward."Prime Minister Jean Chretien told reporters that it's important to keep communication open between Canada and the U.S."We will not make it legal, the sentences will be different, it will tougher for the growers, the distributors," the PM said after the weekly cabinet meeting. "The minister is going there, he will explain that."The details of the plan are not yet known, but reports say that the bill would see that those who caught with under 15 grams of marijuana would be issued a fine similar to that of a traffic ticket, rather than hit with jail time.Cauchon will also move to boost penalties for growers and traffickers. And the government is widely expected to announce new spending on drug prevention and treatment, aimed at discouraging pot use.Washington has expressed concerns about the proposal for relaxing penalties for pot possession. U.S. officials say, for one thing, it could lead to delays at the border. Earlier this month, John Walters, director of the White House office of National Drug Control Policy, said such a policy could also increase crime and would therefore pose a threat to U.S. citizens.There is already some evidence the Liberal plans has been affected by the criticism from south of the border. The 15-gram limit for non-criminal possession is half the 30 grams recommended by a Commons committee.Earlier reports said the bill could be presented in the House by Thursday. Cauchon said it will definitely be tabled before the summer recess.Complaints in Canada In Canada, medicinal marijuana users are surprisingly opposed to decriminalization, saying it will make it more difficult for them to obtain pot."We're talking about raising fines and raising the penalties for distribution and that's certainly something that's going to have an effect on compassion clubs," said Philippe Lucas of Vancouver Island Compassion Society.Lucas told CTV's Canada AM on Tuesday that decriminalization is a "half measure" and that Canada should keep up with some other western countries and legalize pot."We're just inching ahead of the U.S. and not really in touch with the rest of the world," he said.Lucas added that rather that reduce the caseloads moving through Canada's justice system, decriminalization would clog the courts with offenders who haven't paid marijuana-related fines.Plus, he adds "decriminalization doesn't affect the worst part of our drug laws and that's the establishment of a black market."Source: CTV (Canada)Published: May 14, 2003Copyright: 2003 Bell Globemedia Interactive Inc. Website: http://www.ctv.ca/Contact: newsonline ctv.ca Related Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmPenalties To Double for Growing Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16284.shtmlNew Drug Strategy To Target Traffickers http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16283.shtmlOpposition Slams Liberals for Consulting U.S. http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16282.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #10 posted by DigitalFeonix on May 14, 2003 at 11:25:48 PT Fruedian Slip "I think both countries are moving in the same direction," Cauchon told reporters. "We want to maintain the illegal use of drugs in our countries. We want to ensure that we can send a positive message to Canadians."What he is saying is he wants people to continue to use the drugs they maintain as illegal, not that they want to keep drug use illegal. Says a lot doesn't it? [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by FoM on May 14, 2003 at 10:54:46 PT afterburner Yes I did see the Queen mentioned in the videos. Oh I wish I understood how law works better. Decriminalization even just a small amount will show the USA that Cannabis isn't a serious issue. I wish they would understand that Amsterdam didn't go far enough when it decriminlized years ago. The price will rise this way. When people spend lots of their money on a illegal substance ( a weed no less) they won't have that money to put back into the economy and the economy needs help badly.PS: I watched all three videos last night. I didn't see the end of the last one though. It kept buffering so I quit trying but I got the point. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by afterburner on May 14, 2003 at 10:43:31 PT: FoM - Notice the Court Cases Mention the Queen. For example Malmo-Levine vs. Her Majesty the Queen. The Queen of the United Kingdom is still the Queen of Canada, despite re-patriation of the Canadian Constitution. Her Majesty the Queen, or the Grandmother as Sitting Bull called her, must approve all laws passed by the Canadian Parliament through her designate the Governor General. Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson is the current Governor General of Canada. http://www.gg.ca/menu_e.asp I was surprised to find one of my favourite authors, John Ralston Saul, listed on this website. He has written on the hidden world economy of illegal weapons and illegal drugs. No wonder his writing rings true: he has an inside track to government information.Because Canada has a Parliamentary system, the Members of Parliament (House of Commons) are all elected, even the Prime Minister, who is the leader of the designed Canadian government, and leader of his ruling party. He has the authority to demand party allegiance on votes on proposed laws, including sanctions, like expulsion from the party, for those who refuse to support the party position. The current Liberal Party, led by Jean Chrétien, has a majority in the House of Commons. [Filibuster - Editorial Cartoons by JJ McCullough http://www.filibustercartoons.com/Nov2702.htm ] The Canadian Senate is essentially an advisory body with limited power to prevent legislation passed by the House of Commons. When they tried to filibuster the GST (Goods and Services Tax) when Brian Mulroney was Prime Minister, his remedy was to add additional seats to the Senate to get his way. Although they have successfully vetoed bills, they are dependent on the government for their continued existence. "Sat 27 Using permission from the Queen and a previously unused constitutional clause P.M. Mulroney appoints another 8 Senators, this ensures the passage of the GST in the Senate (1990)" -Freedom Party of Ontario - Calendar of Canada - September 1997 http://www.freedomparty.org/consent/cons9709.htm "Critics complain that the Senate is a weak institution. Sen. Taylor--who was appointed in 1996 and will be forced to retire when he turns 75 next month--responds that it was not until he became a senator that he realized how powerful the Senate truly is. "Too powerful," he says. "It has an absolute veto." (As was proved when Sen. Carney's vote killed then prime minister Brian Mulroney's abortion bill.) He adds, however, that the Senate's power is paradoxical. If it vetoed more bills, it would be stripped of its powers--or abolished. -What do they do, anyway? http://report.ca/archive/report/20021021/p20i021021f.htmlego transcendence follows ego destruction, heart by heart, until eventually there is no problem. Pray for Michael Patriquen, and that the Canadian government will allow him to use his medical cannabis according to his Health Canada exemption. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by lombar on May 14, 2003 at 09:48:55 PT not quite... "I think both countries are moving in the same direction,"Cauchon told reporters. "We want to maintain the illegal use of drugs in our countries. We want to ensure that we can send a positive message to Canadians. You should say "..use of SOME drugs.." ...more accurateI think you still don't get it Martin...I AM NOT A CRIMINAL but you keep insisting that I am...maybe I should be one, at least I could be rich too. Nor am I a child but you keep treating me like one. The message you are sending is "We need washingtons approval to do anything.", "we really are bunglers", "harmless people who disagree with the state deserve criminal sanction", "common sense has no place in politics", "relations with US are far more important than what the Canadian people want or need", "we dont want to solve any problems, just create more.", "drink yourself to death and we will help you, smoke some cannabis and we'll convict you, fine you, possibly jail you, persecute your suppliers and generally wreck your life", "we do not recognise that our cure is worse than the disease", "we do not respect the autonomy of cannabis smokers". Well at least you are not taking my vote that will be cast against you and your party...I am hoping that the Supreme Court decides these kinds of laws are unconstitutional because Parliment is always going to fear the US (or voter)reaction so the issue will never be treated fairly in the Commons(gee, another one eh?). Let's just see how much debate is allowed on their new Bill.I think I'm going to go out and find a friend, choose some innocuous behavior they indulge in, tell my friend to stop and when he refuses, browbeat him with false statements, threaten to steal his wallet and beat him up...until he agrees that I am right, that he should not enjoy that behavior because I think it is somehow wrong. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on May 14, 2003 at 08:55:36 PT Doobinie Thank you. That helps. I just wonder where this will wind up and what will become the law in Canada. Are they building new prisons in Canada? I ask that because if they increase the penalties for growing they will need more prisons like we have. Isn't that sad? I don't know who has a final say here in the states because as soon as I think that's all there is, it isn't. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Doobinie on May 14, 2003 at 08:37:35 PT FoM Hi FoM,I'm pretty sure that the Prime Minister is the one who holds most of the power. In fact, it is said that the Canadian Prime Minister has more (relative) power than the US President.The Supreme Court also wields much power, as it has shown by strinking down laws, and such. This is not much info, but I hope it helps a little.Love and Peace,Doobinie [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on May 14, 2003 at 08:23:54 PT Question Who are the bosses in Canada? What I mean is who has more clout then another. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by ekim on May 14, 2003 at 07:57:30 PT email - ConferenceInfo KessJones.com Breaking the Chains --Mid West Conference June 6-7 03 Racine Wisconsin www.breakingthechains.info or 1-888-361-meet (6338) Drug Policy Alliance [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by The GCW on May 14, 2003 at 07:31:47 PT Have it the American way. US OK: PUB LTE: Costly Revengehttp://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n702/a02.html?397To The Editor: In response to Jerry W. Sanders ( "Your Views," May 2 ): I'm in a minimum security prison serving 12 years for selling $20 worth of marijuana to a paid informant. The reason he did this was to keep out of prison on the same charges. The reason I'm in prison is because I wouldn't do the same to someone else. I'm 47 years old and in poor health. I've added it up and it's going to cost Sanders and other taxpayers over $100,000 to take care of me through my sentence. There is no justice in the "war on drugs." The public will soon see that this is a war on people, your family and friends. It's a war on poor and oppressed people. Revenge? Perhaps it's mine through the high cost of housing me. Johnny Wood, McAlester Note: Wood is an inmate at Jackie Brannon Correctional Center in McAlester. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on May 14, 2003 at 07:02:36 PT Related CTV Videos http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1052824339806_7///?hub=TopStories [ Post Comment ] Post Comment