cannabisnews.com: Canada Health Minister Fears Increased Pot Use










  Canada Health Minister Fears Increased Pot Use

Posted by CN Staff on May 14, 2003 at 16:31:26 PT
By Randall Palmer 
Source: Reuters  

Ottawa -- As the Canadian government prepared to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana, Health Minister Anne McLellan warned on Wednesday of a possible spike in its use.McLellan said studies from different places where marijuana had been decriminalized led to the conclusion that usage would rise before eventually settling back, but not before causing health concerns.
"There is a spike after going to these different kind of penalties, and certainly one has to be ready to deal with that spike," McLellan told reporters."It can lead to addiction. It can lead to all sorts of situations within local communities, and you need to be ready with information, with education and with treatment," she said.McLellan said she was not taking a position against decriminalization -- an easing of the criminal law that is supported by Prime Minister Jean Chretien -- but stressing that health concerns needed to be addressed as part of the package.Justice Minister Martin Cauchon, who said he would introduce his legislation in the last week of May, differed from his cabinet colleague about whether there would be a rise in marijuana use."I don't believe that," he said.Cauchon did not elaborate, but said that an estimated 100,000 of Canada's 30 million people were using pot daily and the numbers were increasing."Knowing the numbers of people that are using cannabis, we have to make sure that we will find the appropriate tool, a tool that we can enforce and a tool that will send the message that the government wants to send, and in doing that we'll do a much better job," he said.Cauchon has criticized existing marijuana laws for being largely ineffective and enforced unevenly. The government is looking at replacing jail terms and criminal records with fines of perhaps C$100 ($73) for possession of 15 grams (half an ounce) or less.He has said that marijuana would remain illegal, even if no longer criminal, and that penalties would be toughened substantially for marijuana-growing operations.Cauchon presented his plan in Washington on Tuesday to U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, after the United States voiced concern that the eased marijuana law would mean an increase of illegal imports from Canada.Three opposition parties have criticized Cauchon for going to meet with Ashcroft because of the implication that Washington would dictate Ottawa's policy. Cauchon has insisted he was not consulting but only informing Ashcroft what Ottawa had decided to do."We haven't consulted (with Washington)," he said. Source: Reuters Author: Randall PalmerPublished: May 14, 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.htmMarijuana Use May Rise If Liberals Decriminalize http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16293.shtmlNew Pot Law To Be Delayed http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16292.shtmlCanada Needs Comprehensive Drug Strategyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16289.shtml

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Comment #11 posted by lag on May 15, 2003 at 06:34:22 PT
Schlosser
Ah yes SChlosser. That's almost as bad as the Hardball transcript I was reading recently where Chris Matthews kept referring to Dick Gephardt as Dick Gerhardt. My excuse...I am not a talking head...and I was tired.
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Comment #10 posted by malleus2 on May 15, 2003 at 05:49:19 PT
Something to think about...
So, Health Minister McLellan is concerned about the possibility of more people using cannabis?A substance with no known LD-50...a substance that does not cause cancer...a substance which, in 5,000 years of recorded history, from clay tablets with scratch marks on them to the CRT you are staring at and reading, has not killed a single human being. One of Nature's truly safe medicines. You'd think she'd be overjoyed at the prospect that for once, she wouldn't have to worry about a possible health problem...because there isn't any.If this so-called Health Minister was truly concerned for the health of her fellow countrymen, she'd give pause before she opened her mouth again. Because it could be argued that she has failed miserably in her duties to Canadians by being such an ignorant, purblind political tool of the Americans in obstructing her fellow Maple Leafers from using this incredible medicine.Do her paychecks get cut in Ottawa...or Washington? Does she get them in the Canadian Mail/Postes Canada...or are they flown in from Reagan National Airport? In a DEA satchel?
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Comment #9 posted by Active8 on May 15, 2003 at 01:21:31 PT:
Get Political...It's Free!
It's time for Canadians to tell the people "WE" elect to represent "OUR" interests exactly what it is we expect of them. With the lack of direction the Liberals (and for that matter most governments)display, it is up to us to let politicians in on what the rest of the country already knows. So set aside just a few minutes today to email this simple message to your local "Liberal" candidate (Liberal because with their majority right now can make this happen). Dear _____: You will have my vote if cannabis is legalized before the upcoming federal election. Signed ______. Then every day until the next election send the exact same message. There is only one thing that motivates a politician and that of course is the thought of being re-elected. Make it clear how Canadians "REALLY" feel and let it be known that you have the power to change "Their" lives with a simple "X". 
I am a firm believer in the power of numbers so also send an email to everyone in your address list asking them to send the same message. If you are not a Canadian citizen you can still help by doing the same and adding a line such as "My next vacation destination will be Canada if ...." Give it a go...it's free... just like "WE" want to be!
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on May 14, 2003 at 23:20:50 PT
lag
I just posted this review of Eric Schlosser's book but I pressed the wrong bottom so it went to the archives instead of the front page. Sex, Drugs and Cheap Vegetables: http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread16295.shtml
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Comment #7 posted by lag on May 14, 2003 at 22:56:14 PT
on topic this time
The world needs to stop being America's bitch. Our politicians are turning our nation into a whiny little baby...one not even pacified by the silver spoon in it's mouth...or perhaps because of it.America does not have all the answers. America is like my dad; I could write a well thoughtout discourse on why O'Reilly was a detriment to our nation and my dad would respond with something like, "Watch O'Reilly, he'll make you feel better."Well, back to the Eric Schossel situation...at the QnA after the talk one audience member mentioned a campaign by those passionate about changing public discourse regarding Marijuana...get a rubber marijuana leaf stamp, and with every bit of paper money you spend you put a stamp on the bill. It was an intriguing idea...using the virulent nature of cash to get out word of our cause. My wife and I joked about "In Weed we trust". (if religion is the opiate of the masses, then for me weed is the stimulant). 
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Comment #6 posted by lag on May 14, 2003 at 22:47:21 PT
Eric Schossel
I just got back from Cody's in Berkeley where Eric Schlossel was talking about his book: Reefer Madness. What an amazing person...and none other than Ed Rosenthal was in the audience, with who I guess is his daughter. That really made my day. My wife says she chatted with him briefly while he waited in line to have his book signed.He got a roaring round of applause when Eric pointed him out...I think I might have hurt some people's ears around me.Well, I highly recommend the book, Eric points out some awesome inconsistencies and connections between the war on pot and immigrant labor. And of course there is the porn industry. I truly think that this country could do a little (by that I mean a whole hell of a lot) less preaching and little (by that I mean at least a little, just a teensy tiny bit...at least) more listening. The biggest thing that I felt from the whole thing was a sense of validation. For the last year I have been growing more and more disillusioned with society, feeling trapped in the modern working world, consuming to block the gut wrenching feeling that I am no more than a whore pimping my wares so that I can eat and feed my family. And everything he said was what I was feeling...all I can say is wow. Now if only I could put out a book as well researched and well thought out as him.
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Comment #5 posted by Virgil on May 14, 2003 at 21:48:15 PT
Colin Davies fails drug test and denied release
The article was copied to the hempcity.com messageboard- http://www.hempcity.net/usersgallery/albums/userpics/colin.jpg It list this link to the online edition of the article- http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/news/stories/Detail_LinkStory=58490.html
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on May 14, 2003 at 19:52:21 PT

The GCW
I agree with you. What is going to happen with Canada's Medical Marijuana Law? No matter what they say we have a legitimate argument in response. It's like a soap opera. Maybe we should call it ' As Cannabis Spins 'I hope I live to see the day when this is really exposed as the sham it has been. I'll keep hoping.
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Comment #3 posted by Virgil on May 14, 2003 at 19:50:23 PT

Oh Boy. Increased use is desirable.
Health Minister Anne McLellan warned on Wednesday of a possible spike in its use.Once use goes up, let's hope it stays there or keeps rising. What are they doing for the drunks anyway. Feed them cannabis. The low level of cannabis use is a problem of society. 
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Comment #2 posted by The GCW on May 14, 2003 at 19:23:57 PT

The Health Minister 
Anne McLellan, seems to be disregarding sick citizens who need cannabis.She is tending to the needs of American prohibitionists, though.  Notice there isn't any law being proposed to allow the sick to obtain and use cannabis, which is what the court ordered.
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on May 14, 2003 at 17:54:01 PT

Another Question
If Health Minister Anne McLellan is worried about Cannabis being addictive what does she have to say about how the Cannabis is ready from Flin Flon? Is she going to stop this too? Canada is receiving Cannabis from the U.S.'s Mississippi Farm. How will they get out of this one?Canadian Marijuana Ready for Trials: http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread16200.shtml
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