cannabisnews.com: New Pot Plan Just Token Effort 





New Pot Plan Just Token Effort 
Posted by CN Staff on May 15, 2003 at 23:39:39 PT
By Mike Garrett
Source: Kamloops Daily News 
If you’re confused about the federal government’s policy on marijuana, you’re not alone. By the end of the month, it’s expected that legislation will be tabled in the House of Commons decriminalizing possession of 15 grams or less of pot. According to reports, in the future, those caught with the offending amount will be ticketed and fined, but will be exempt from the stigma of a criminal record. This comes on the heels of a string of court decisions in Ontario that invalidated laws that make it illegal to possess small amounts of marijuana. 
There is also ample evidence that a majority of Canadians favour decriminalization. Such a bold move has raised concerns from our neighbours down south, who fear lax laws here will put undue pressure on our shared border and on U.S. customs agents. This despite the fact 12 states have already decriminalized possession of small amounts of pot. Police chiefs in many provinces are also worried the message this loosening of drug laws will send as they combat an increasingly violent war against marijuana grow operations. Anticipating such a backlash, Ottawa’s decriminalization plan also features tougher measures to target illegal grow-ops, including the doubling of penalties for drug trafficking. As well, the proposals include a new strategy designed by Health Canada to discourage drug use. Although this piece of legislation appears progressive, it still does nothing to help people with MS, glaucoma, hepatitis or AIDS who need marijuana to deal with their everyday pain. While Ottawa tells them they can legally have their pot, it won’t supply the drug for them, making it necessary for them to buy it on the streets at greatly inflated prices, which will only increase as more grow-ops are shut down. Because the federal government is adverse to legalizing pot — largely out of fear of a backlash from the U.S. — it’s introducing half measures it hopes will stave off further court challenges that could force Ottawa’s hand. But how bad could outright legalization be? In Holland, when pot was legalized, the use of it among teenagers as well as the general population decreased dramatically. Recent studies have proven that pot is not the gateway drug it was previously thought to be. And the possibilities for new revenue streams should make legalization an attractive option for cash-strapped governments faced with ailing health-care and education systems. But it seems our federal government has given little thought to these issues as it hastily slapped together a plan with an eye to pleasing everyone. Instead, this half-baked plan will do little to help people who need pot and undermine efforts to stop the booming illegal trade in marijuana. Source: Kamloops Daily News (CN BC)Author: Mike GarrettPublished: May 15, 2003Copyright: 2003 Kamloops Daily NewsContact kamloopsnews telus.netWebsite: http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/Related Articles:Stop The Reefer Madness http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16301.shtmlOttawa Delays Introduction of Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16299.shtmlLiberals Feud as Marijuana Bill Delayedhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16297.shtml 
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Comment #1 posted by paulpeterson on May 16, 2003 at 08:19:16 PT
HALF-BAKED MEASURES NECESSARY IN HALF-BAKED WORLD
True, the "decriminalization" discussed for Canada is half-baked, leaving vestiges of this "witch hunt" in place and keeping prices artificially inflated. But, of course, evolution of species also advanced choppily, one gene at a time, leaving us with perhaps 90% of genetic material almost totally useless (like software to produce "gills" and redundant circulatory systems that are never used). In fact, every advance in consumer technology carries with it all of the mistakes of previous generations of products, with some vestibular structures, etc.What we all need is for Canada to DO SOMETHING, anything, to start to goad the moribund USA to even "think" about doing something about these matters. Once the media gets ahold of the issue of NO CRIMINAL PENALTIES for pot use while driving, that will feed debate about the relative safety issues (alcohol much worse, etc.)SO KUDOS TO CANADA for even starting this half-baked effort, at least the cooking has begun! I'm done now, just checking in STAY TUNED FOR THE CHURCH OF THE TREE OF LIFE.
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