cannabisnews.com: Bad Buzz?: U.S. Keeping Close Eye on Canada Bad Buzz?: U.S. Keeping Close Eye on Canada Posted by CN Staff on May 16, 2003 at 08:40:35 PT By Rogene Fisher Source: ABCNews.com Resentful Canadian legislators who want to decriminalize carrying around a decent-sized stash of marijuana are accusing their prime minister of giving in to U.S. meddling aimed at nipping the domestic drug plan in the bud. Canada delayed introducing a proposal to decriminalize marijuana possession after its justice minister met Tuesday in Washington with U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft. Prime Minister Jean Chretien is taking a pounding from opposition legislators angered that his administration floated the proposal with U.S. officials before discussing it with them. Reacting to Justice Minister Martin Cauchon's meeting with Ashcroft, New Democrat leader Jack Layton said, "There goes Canadian sovereignty up in smoke," The Associated Press reported.The proposal would make possession of 15 grams or less of pot — enough marijuana for approximately 20 joints — a minor offense. Offenders would face fines on par with those for traffic tickets, rather than jail terms or criminal records.Cauchon stresses that the proposal does not legalize marijuana. Instead, it is an attempt to shift penalties. The proposal would stiffen penalties for plant-growing operations and traffickers. He argues that the current penalty system has left thousands of Canadians needlessly tarred with criminal records and that cases on minor marijuana offenses are clogging the courts. Seeking Permission? Canadian opposition legislators were angered not only that the Chretien administration discussed the drug plan with Washington first, but also by the appearance that Canada was seeking U.S. permission to pursue a domestic policy. Before his Washington visit, Cauchon had also discussed the plan with Ashcroft at a recent Group of Eight summit.When the proposal was put forward in a policy speech late last year, U.S. officials were quick to voice their opposition. John Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Policy, warned that the decriminalization proposal would increase both Canada's drug problem and the flow of marijuana to the United States.Both Walters and U.S. Ambassador Paul Cellucci have said a decriminalization program in Canada could lead to major slowdowns at border crossings as U.S. Customs and immigration officials would be more vigilant in searching for drug smugglers.The original proposal would have decriminalized possession of 30 grams or less, and had been slated to be introduced in Parliament this week.Cauchon downplayed suggestions that the delay was prompted by U.S. pressure, and said he would introduce the proposal shortly after the legislature's recess next week.Bullied by Bush? According to Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the U.S.-based Drug Policy Alliance, some Canadian politicians were expressing concern about possible U.S. retaliation for the policy."I think they are feeling bullied and intimidated, especially with Cellucci and Walters being so strident and threatening," Nadelmann said.Nadelmann, whose group supports making marijuana legally available for medical purposes and ending criminal penalties for marijuana, except those involving distribution of drugs to children, said no decriminalization program is perfect, but U.S. policy is failing. The enormous expenditures and continuing high incarceration rates suggest, Nadelmann said, that America needs a new approach to its "war on drugs."Noting that many Americans support reducing or eliminating prison sentences for minor drug-possession offenses as well as the medical use of marijuana, Nadelmann said the Bush administration is pushing an extremist position with an "ideological fervor not unlike Carrie Nation and the temperance movement."Canada's move toward decriminalizing pot, Nadelmann said, would highlight that extremism. "It's one thing for the Bush administration to have to deal with the fact that more and more of the industrialized world is moving toward legal regulation of marijuana, but to have our closest neighbor and ally talking and acting in favor of it further legitimizes it."Nadelmann, who visited Vancouver earlier this month to discuss drug policy initiatives, said Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell told him that federal ministers were feeling concerned about pressure from U.S. officials regarding the marijuana proposal.But Mike Murphy, a spokesman in Cauchon's office, said there was no pressure from U.S. officials to vet the plan before it was introduced in the Canadian legislature. "It was a meeting that was conducted in an atmosphere of mutual respect. It was a cordial meeting in which items of mutual interest were discussed," Murphy said.The U.S. Justice Department had no further comment beyond a joint press release issued after the meeting, which said Ashcroft and Cauchon discussed the full range of U.S.-Canadian issues, including counterterrorism, counternarcotics, extradition and mutual legal assistance. In spite of a growing list of disputes with Canada — ranging from its opposition to the U.S.-led war in Iraq and an ongoing dispute among Canadian legislators over the U.S. National Defense Missile Program — Murphy stressed that the drug policy initiative was not creating another snag in U.S.-Canada ties."The U.S. is a great friend and important ally," Murphy said. "There's been some misinformation out there. The proposal is not calling for the legalization of marijuana. Marijuana possession in small quantities will still be illegal. What we're talking about is an alternative penalty program."Creating a New Problem? Not all ministers were angered by the delay of the decriminalization proposal. Health Minister Anne McLellan expressed concern that passage of the proposal would lead to a spike in marijuana use. She cited statistics showing that usage rose in the 12 U.S. states immediately after marijuana was decriminalized. She noted, however, that usage in those state eventually returned to original levels.She said she would not back the proposal until she had funding for a strategy to deal with increased usage or addiction. Howard Simon, spokesman for the U.S.-based Partnership for a Drug-Free America, echoed McLellan's concern. Simon's group focuses on helping American kids and teens reject substance abuse. There are two particularly influential factors that affect decisions to try drugs, Simon said: the level of perceived risk and the level of perceived social approval. "If you lessen one it will affect the other," he said.However, whether a country regulates a substance or not, Simon said, may make little difference in the end.If parents talk with their kids regularly, openly and honestly, kids will be better equipped to choose not to use drugs, he said. And helping kids stay away from drug use will likely steer them away from drug use in adulthood. "In the final analysis it's about choice, whether it's a legal or illegal product." Complete Title: Bad Buzz?: U.S. Keeping Close Eye on Canada Pot Proposal Source: ABCNews.com (U.S. Web)Author: Rogene FisherPublished: May 16, 2003Copyright: 2003 ABC News Internet VenturesWebsite: http://www.abcnews.go.com/Contact: http://www.abcnews.go.com/onair/email.htmlRelated Articles & Web Sites:Drug Policy Alliancehttp://www.drugpolicy.org/Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmCanada's Reefer Sanity http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16312.shtmlWhat Are You Smoking, Canada?http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16311.shtmlLighter Penalties for Minors in Pot Bill http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16309.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #9 posted by freedom fighter on May 18, 2003 at 13:05:40 PT How many more??? How many more will have to die? Hey, johnny the bully, here is your proof and evidence of your persecution of the fellow American, one of the many..How many more??? pazff [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on May 16, 2003 at 20:23:37 PT This Is One Reason Why The Drug War Needs To Stop! A Fatal MistakeWoman Has Heart Attack After Police Raid Wrong Home With Stun Grenade.May 16 — A 57-year-old woman with a heart condition died today after police mistakenly raided her apartment with a stun grenade, authorities said. Police were searching for a Harlem drug dealer's cache of drugs and weapons, but kicked down the door to the apartment of city employee Alberta Spruill instead, police said.Within an hour, the woman entered cardiac arrest and died, police said.The cops were led to the apartment by a registered, but apparently untested, informant, who had promised to show them the cache of an alleged drug dealer who lived in an apartment in the same building, police said. Spruill had just dressed to go to her job at the city Department of Personnel, where she certified eligibility for persons placed on a list as candidates for civil service jobs, when the raiding party executed its "No Knock" warrant, tossed in the grenade and handcuffed the stunned woman to a chair. Asked if she needed medical help by a captain who arrived and asked for her to be uncuffed, she said no, according to police.An ambulance was called nonetheless when she told police of her condition. It arrived at 6:41 a.m. and a record of her vital signs was made. It indicated she appeared fine, police said.She then suffered her heart attack while on the way to Harlem Hospital and was pronounced dead on arrival.Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said that stun, or "flash bang," grenades have been used 87 times in New York City in 2003, largely in raids and to dislodge barricaded suspects. He said that police have executed more than 1,900 warrants this year and four of those were at the wrong address.Kelly also said that the use of the grenades normally requires advance approval, which was not sought in this case. However, a supervisor can also authorize the use at the scene of a police incident if it appears the situation warrants it.The lieutenant who made that judgment call in the case of Spruill has been placed on administrative leave."This is a tragedy. This should not have happened. No doubt about that," Kelly said.The incident is under investigation. http://more.abcnews.go.com/sections/us/worldnewstonight/grenade_030516.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by malleus2 on May 16, 2003 at 13:13:27 PT Fearfull is certainly right about the hype I didn't watch the O'Reilly Factor because 'I got high' and didn't want to ruin a good buzz with his inanities.But the commercial leading up to the program was warning Americans that we could 'lose it all!' by Canada going decrim.Canadian decrim causing Western civilization to fall. Oh, man, what rubes... [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by fearfull on May 16, 2003 at 12:12:39 PT The Bush regiem is scared silly of any advance the cronies in washington are scared out of their pants that any advance on the side of the anti-prohib's will trigger the downfall of western civilization. Yet they can not, or will not allow themselves to open their eyes. If they could just go out some Saturday night to any one of a hundered college towns, anonymously, they would see the truth. And the truth is that there are thousands upon thousands of americans, of all age groups, using pot. They have lost the war and don't even know it! So now they are trying the tried and true tool of all despots, genocide. Washington Is Attempting To Commit Cultural Genocide.Think about it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on May 16, 2003 at 11:12:11 PT malleus2 Please don't choke on your hamburger. I haven't figured out how to do a virtual heimlich maneuver yet! LOL! [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by malleus2 on May 16, 2003 at 10:19:34 PT Dammit, I almost choked on my burger When I read this last bit:*However, whether a country regulates a substance or not, Simon said, may make little difference in the end.If parents talk with their kids regularly, openly and honestly, kids will be better equipped to choose not to use drugs, he said. And helping kids stay away from drug use will likely steer them away from drug use in adulthood. "In the final analysis it's about choice, whether it's a legal or illegal product."*This...from the "This is your brain..." people? This...from the people who say that cannabis today is "2x, 4x, 8x .....Xx times more powerful than 'your parents' marijuana".? This...from people who said that men grew breasts and women become sluts after a few puffs? An organization whose very premise is built upon lies...whose members in the past have stated publicly that lying to children about parental drug use is acceptable...now are saying that being honest is a good idea?(Rolling eyes) I thought the depths of hypocrisy had already been plumbed by these people, and they provide a fresh example to tweak my incredulity buttons. Must be all those martini lunches they have on our dime on federal property while plotting destruction of the democratic process in fighting popular referenda. Alcohol rots the brain, you know... [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on May 16, 2003 at 10:16:42 PT Druid It says I've already voted. Here are the current results. The federal government is on the verge of decriminalizing marijuana. Should they go one step further and legalize it? Yes -- 6922 votes -- (52 %) No -- 6446 votes -- (48 %) Total Votes: 13368 [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Sam Adams on May 16, 2003 at 09:11:14 PT See what I mean? "She said she would not back the proposal until she had funding for a strategy to deal with increased usage or addiction. "Extortion pure and simple! If you want us to relinquish power of arrest over 2 million off you, you'll have to pay us off. The only way we'll give up our power in one area is to get more ability to tax, more budget, more bureaucrats in another. King George imposed one (1) Tea Tax and the whole country revolted! But we let "elected" officials and bureaucrats steal our money all day long.I'm starting to understand now why Cauchon ran off to Washington - he was seeking support, not approval. He needed more ammo to fend off the arguements in favor of decrim. The only way this is ever going to happen (outside the Supreme Court) is if one party uses the decrim bill to punish another. Hopefully Chretien will create enough of rift with this pandering to the US to rouse the other parties to action! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by druid on May 16, 2003 at 09:07:42 PT Globe and Mail Poll Is everyone voting on this poll?http://www.theglobeandmail.com/home/The federal government is on the verge of decriminalizing marijuana. Should they go one step further and legalize it?Yes 6058 votes (52 %)No 5639 votes (48 %)Total Votes: 11697 [ Post Comment ] Post Comment