cannabisnews.com: Pillitteri Says No To Decriminalizing Pillitteri Says No To Decriminalizing Posted by CN Staff on May 15, 2003 at 22:23:45 PT By Tony Ricciuto Source: Niagara Falls Review Niagara Falls MP Gary Pillitteri is against the decriminalization of marijuana because it would create more problems than it would solve, especially for border communities like ours. “I think we would be heading down a slippery slope if we started with the decriminalization of marijuana,” said Pillitteri. “It would hurt us. There’s the border issue. The Americans have said that some things could slow down on that border and I don’t think we need any more additives working against us in the Niagara Peninsula.” If marijuana was legalized, he said, more Americans would be crossing the border to purchase it in Canada. “It opens the door to many things and I don’t think that we, as Canadians, are prepared to handle.” Pillitteri said not enough research has been done to know what long-term effects marijuana might have on user, and he is concerned the change could possibly open the door for the decriminalization of other drugs or substances. “I personally have never smoked it, never inhaled it or exhaled it,” said Pillitteri, adding he has never asked his children or grandchildren if they have ever tried it. While some members of parliament have been vocal in support of the issue, Pillitteri said he remains steadfast against it. He estimates perhaps half of the Liberals might be in favour of decriminalization, and it will likely also receive backing from the NDP and the Bloc. “Living in a border city, and being a father and grandfather, I’ve never condoned it and do not support it.” There are those who feel smoking any amount of marijuana is unhealthy, but that possession of up to 30 grams of marijuana be treated as a regulatory offence and not land someone with a criminal record. Some legal experts have pointed out few people end up getting jail time for simple possession of marijuana, but the stigma of a criminal record makes it difficult when looking for work or when crossing the border into the United States. “I don’t think we have thought this through enough,” said Pillitteri. There are those who have told him that smoking marijuana isn’t any different than someone having a glass of wine or a beer. Pillitteri, who owns a winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, strongly disagrees. He said there are ways to measure a person’s alcohol content within their blood system if they have been drinking and driving, but wonders how a person would be tested if they were under the influence of marijuana. “The government has also tried to grow different strains of marijuana for medical purposes and they have not been able to control the standard.” According to one poll conducted in June 2001 by Leger Marketing, of 1,507 Canadians aged 18 and older who were asked their views on marijuana, 46.8 per cent were in favour of legalizing the sale and use of pot; 47.7 per cent were opposed. Almost 40 per cent thought it would increase the use of harder drugs and 38 per cent said it would decrease. Note: MP worries slack laws will lead to border problems.Source: Niagara Falls Review (Canada)Author: Tony RicciutoPublished: Thursday, May 15, 2003 Copyright: 2003 Osprey Media Group Inc.Contact: citydesk nfreview.comWebsite: http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/Related Articles:Stop The Reefer Madness http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16301.shtmlOttawa's Pot Plan Overhaul Delayed Two Weekshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16300.shtmlOpposition Slams Liberals for Consulting U.S. http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16282.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #6 posted by til on May 16, 2003 at 12:47:46 PT wine vs pot Accepted conduct: 1) Work hard,on the way home pick up some wine. 2) Go home and drink the bottle of wine and feel good. 3)Feeling good, go to bar after fight with spouse about feeling good. 4)Drink anything now and drive home,get pulled over,blow over,get charged, have car impounded and contemplate costs. 5)Go home don't feel good, coming down,wake up family,yell,fight and beat up family. Unaccepted conduct: 1)Work hard,on the way home pick up a joint. 2)Go home take a couple of puffs and feel good. 3)Feeling good,cook creative supper for family and stay home. 4)Enjoy some music,joke with family and contemplate life. 5)Feeling tired go to bed. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on May 16, 2003 at 03:01:47 PT LTE Sirs, One of the common concerns of people about the forthcoming relaxation of marijuana laws is the issue of driving while intoxicated. In your article, winery-owner and M.P. Gary Pillitteri "said there are ways to measure a person’s alcohol content within their blood system if they have been drinking and driving, but wonders how a person would be tested if they were under the influence of marijuana." Last fall, the Canadian Senate's Special Committee on Illegal Drugs issued their report. Their conclusions about marijuana and driving? "Cannabis alone, particularly in low doses, has little effect on the skills involved in automobile driving." Their main concern was with people who might be doubly intoxicated from both alcohol and marijuana who are driving. In this instance, they reccomended that the blood-alcohol limit be lowered from .1% to .04%. If it is more dangerous to drive after drinking alcohol, then why is marijuana the illegal one? [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Active8 on May 15, 2003 at 23:34:37 PT Is It Really??? "THE SKY IS FALLING...THE SKY IS FALLING". It is just that easy to make totally unfounded statements like the those of Niagara Falls MP Gary Pillitteri (aka Pillitteri, who owns a winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake). Oh wait I just glanced out my window and unlike Gary's, MY observations seem to be correct. The sky IS falling...just ask anyone following the cases currently before the Supreme Court of Canada.... [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by lag on May 15, 2003 at 22:39:23 PT impairment I may be wrong, but there are other tests one can administer that would help to determine ones impairment level. What is up with these people? The world is constantly working to come up with bigger and better ideas, and the law enforcers can't even be imaginative enough to come up with an alternative to the breathalizer for marijuana? Sounds to me like they could use a little creativity enhancer...hmm, but what? [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by lag on May 15, 2003 at 22:31:35 PT What does it open the door to? Excuse me...but there is a saying: when one door closes another one opens. In the case of Marijuana prohibition, when one door opens (legalization) another one closes (the harm caused by prohibition). So what's the big deal with decriminalization? [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on May 15, 2003 at 22:29:07 PT Feedback Form Hi Everyone,This feedback form might be better then the email for a letter to the editor and thought I'd post it.http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/webapp/feedback/feedbackcontentadd.asp?catmainname=Feedback&catname=Post+Feedback [ Post Comment ] Post Comment