cannabisnews.com: Pot Decriminalization Fears 'Overblown': Expert





Pot Decriminalization Fears 'Overblown': Expert
Posted by CN Staff on May 18, 2003 at 10:45:56 PT
By The CTV.ca News Staff
Source: CTV
Justice Minister Martin Cauchon has yet to unveil proposed legislation for decriminalizing marijuana, but already U.S. officials have denounced the proposal. But one U.S. advocate says fears south of the border are unfounded."The best research tends to show that the decriminalization of marijuana has little to no impact on levels of use," Ethan Nadleman, executive director of the U.S.-based Drug Policy Alliance, told CTV's Question Period on Sunday.
Nadleman says the U.S. is opposed to more lenient marijuana laws in Canada because they would highlight how out-of-touch the stricter American laws are in comparison to much of the Western world.In the States, marijuana is lumped along with harder drugs like heroin and PCB as drugs with "a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use." In contrast, countries like Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Belgium have all recently endorsed legislation to decriminalize cannabis.In the Netherlands, one of the countries most famously lax on marijuana users, possession of up to 30 grams of cannabis is a minor offence that is generally not prosecuted. Dealing in small amounts of cannabis is also an offence, but police refrain from prosecuting the notorious "coffee shops" where patrons can purchase small amounts of pot for personal use."I think you have to understand how truly out-of-step the United States is relative to other democracies," Nadleman said Sunday."The United States is increasingly isolated and I think the administration finds it embarrassing to have its neighbours move forward," he added.This week, U.S. Drug Czar John Walters said he doesn't care how Canadian laws impact domestically. But he expressed concerns that decriminalization would result in higher drug use south of the border as well as the proliferation of B.C. bud, a highly potent drug which Walters called the "crack of marijuana."Nadleman says those concerns are "vastly overblown.""Right now the largest producer for the (marijuana) market is the United States itself," he said, adding that even if U.S. drug enforcement was able to eliminate drug exporters "someone will always be willing to step into their shoes."Nadleman says rather than impacting marijuana use, changing drug laws would only effect the number of people going to jail on drug-related offences."We (the U.S.) lock up more people on drug charges than the entire European Union locks up for everything," Nadleman said."That's not a model I think most Canadians would want to follow, but that is part and parcel of U.S. drug policy."Marijuana Backgrounder: http://www.ctv.ca/generic/WebSpecials/marijuana/Source: CTV (Canada)Published: May 18, 2003Copyright: 2003 Bell Globemedia Interactive Inc. Website: http://www.ctv.ca/Contact: newsonline ctv.ca Related Articles & Web Sites:Drug Policy Alliancehttp://www.drugpolicy.org/Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmLighter Penalties for Minors in Pot Billhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16309.shtmlNew Pot Plan Just Token Effort http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16308.shtmlStop The Reefer Madness http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16301.shtml
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Comment #23 posted by FoM on May 18, 2003 at 22:01:08 PT
Another Comment
I only had the second hour and it was so good I had to have the whole program so I uploaded both of them and added the links to my Canadian page. I don't know if they archive their programs and this way I know it will be available for reference in the future if it's needed. I'm hoping for good news this coming week. Keeping my fingers crossed!Canadian Links: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmPart One: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/cbcaud.mp3Part Two: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/cbcaudio.mp3
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Comment #22 posted by FoM on May 18, 2003 at 19:35:53 PT
Just a Note
The link I posted is the second hour. I thought it was the whole 2 hours. Thought I'd mention it. I tried!
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Comment #21 posted by FoM on May 18, 2003 at 19:19:54 PT
Thanks The GCW
That was interesting to read. 
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Comment #20 posted by FoM on May 18, 2003 at 19:07:13 PT
I Uploaded The CBC Call In Program
This is one of the audio files from the link that puff_tuff just posted. I never uploaded any audio or video programs and wanted to see if I could. It takes up a lot of space and takes time so I don't think I'll upload the rest. At least I figured out how. That was interesting. http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/cbcaudio.mp3
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Comment #19 posted by The GCW on May 18, 2003 at 18:42:43 PT
FoM, global warming?
Bush - Am man in love with power plants.http://www.island.org/prescience/p5/bush.htmlOur power plant is not His power plant.His power plant produces global warming, while Ours prevents it.
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Comment #18 posted by Virgil on May 18, 2003 at 18:29:09 PT
My perspective on the businessman attitude
I listened briefly to the show. I heard what below in comment mentioning a businessman that had made a marriage with money and vowed to forsake all others. His call for prohibition drew on the antimotivaional argument for spending billions, robbing people of their vote for all time while inflating prison sentences way beyond the basic pre-biblical and never replaced as the #1 concept of justice- proportionality, while being abable to seize homes by saying "Here is our paper."Well I have read the arguements for probition. His arguement is "You did not accept money as your god." I can understand why people might think it true with the power to create reality and move armies and mountains- I mean with all the followers out there. He made a weak stance to continue to make people suffer the harms of cannabis prohibition even if the worshippers of his god conrols everything.My thinking is the power will be broken by a boycott by the foreigners of American goods and by Americans starving the economy to restore the public good as the chief guideline of government. Jury nullification may free cannabis, if we all advance the distibution of its need, but only a great awakening will un-invert things so that the public good and freedom restored.June 2nd, 2003 will have a day of it's own infamy, because, it completely negates D-day because it is its polar opposite in its contribution to freedom and success in advancing funtioning democracies. Inasked several times before, "What do you call the permafrost once it melts?" I now ask,"What will they call the public airwaves after June 2, 2003?"
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Comment #17 posted by puff_tuff on May 18, 2003 at 18:01:41 PT
CBC
If you missed CBC's phone in show it's available at the CBC site (various formats), it's the first listing.http://www.cbc.ca/checkup/archive/2003/archives03.html
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Comment #16 posted by FoM on May 18, 2003 at 17:27:32 PT
ekim and Lehder
Thanks I just turned it on! Lehder I know it will never be here like in Canada. It's very sad. As long as big money controls everything only big money will get their opinions heard. I somethings think that all the real Americans live in Canada. They sure do show respect for different opinions.
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Comment #15 posted by Lehder on May 18, 2003 at 17:19:05 PT
breaking...
bad linkhttp://www.counterpunch.org/mcchesney05162003.htmlalso 3-2, not 5-2
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Comment #14 posted by ekim on May 18, 2003 at 17:10:26 PT
History Ch. 
on now all about Prohibition and rumrunning and bootlegging
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Comment #13 posted by Lehder on May 18, 2003 at 17:00:46 PT
U.S. Radio
" I wish that we could have a radio call in program like this one in the states.
   It's sounds so Free!"Good luck. Already, U.S. radio is controlled by a very few huge corporations, mainly Viacom, that permit broadcasting only by right-wing - unfathomably ignorant and crazy right-wing, as you know - lunatics like Limbaugh. Moreover, it's very likely about to become much worse, according to the Counter Punch link here. It's going to become worse very soon too, on June 2, when the FCC will probably vote 
 5-2 to allow further mega-mergers in broadcasting. This will finally eliminate any broadcasts of local interest, so that it will be nothing but George B___ crap all day and all night everywhere.Worse still, the new rules, if passed, will seal the same fate for television, which, believe it or not will also become far worse. That's what the article says, but what can it mean - television to become far worse? How is that possible? I had to give that one a little thought, and about all I can imagine is that the storylines will become infused with politics, simplistic parables to help you understand why various places around the world must be destroyed, and little freedom-pies for Americans to munch on. And guys like Bill Maher and Charlie Rose will have to make way for guys like Limbaugh and more time for 700 Club. I'm not gonna think what they're gonna do to the news. Hey, maybe if I a buy a really big wide-screen set it'll be better. How long does it take to set up?
The FCC's Big Grab
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Comment #12 posted by FoM on May 18, 2003 at 15:30:49 PT
malleus2 
Exactly! This is how it should have been debated a long time ago! I really agree! I love to listen to intelligent I say intelligent debate!!!
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Comment #11 posted by malleus2 on May 18, 2003 at 15:23:41 PT
I have to say, it was quite refreshing
to have the host maintain a demeanor of impartiality and desire to get at the facts. All too often down here you are dealing with a host who either has preconceived ideas that they are determined to ram down your throats...or their sponsors do.Needless to say, it matters little which is which...But it should be noted that the VAST majority of callers favored the general approach, if not the specifics,of decrim. It was quite obvious that any caller screening that may have taken place was performed to pervent the eruption of the occasional naughty word (which didn't prevent some self-proclaimed 'successful' anti-drug oriented businessman from calling in and spouting off with a few of them).All in all, it was an example of how this debate should have been conducted long ago, were it not for Drug war histrionics...
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on May 18, 2003 at 15:04:59 PT
Excellent Program
I hope others were able to listen to the last two hours of talking about decriminalization on the CBC. I wish that we could have a radio call in program like this one in the states. It's sounds so Free!
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on May 18, 2003 at 14:02:29 PT
I Love This Program
A 78 year old woman just said the government should mind it's own business and it should be legal! God Bless all the very wise Canadians!
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Comment #8 posted by lag on May 18, 2003 at 13:53:08 PT
Operation Pipe Dreams
Callum Francis has a pretty good High on the Air regarding the subject of this post, where he meets with several glass makers at a convention in SF. It is an insightful look at the 'hooligans' he is trying to put away. These are artists...and artists have always been the target of the government.Just thought I would recommend Callum Francis' radio show since someone mentioned John Walters and his inane views about the pot culture.Now, one thing I would like to know is why people would side with warhawks and knock people who are seeking peace? I would say that pretty much anyone out there that is an advocate for pot is an advocate for peace. How can people disparage people who want peace? They say they are being unrealistic about the nature of the world or something? I dare say that we are being realistic about humanity...that it should and can pursue peace and even achieve it.Then again I am a humanist who believes that peace will only exist on this Earth, and that any peace that occurs after we leave it will be a bonus. 
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on May 18, 2003 at 13:28:07 PT
Good Show
They are talking about Friday's decision! Wonderful!
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on May 18, 2003 at 13:12:26 PT
Program on Decriminalization of Cannabis is on NOW
http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread16330.shtml#3
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Comment #5 posted by Virgil on May 18, 2003 at 13:10:31 PT
I think we have another Walter's Lie
This week, U.S. Drug Czar John Walters said he doesn't care how Canadian laws impact domestically.I believe he cares a great deal about it. He is quoted on Canadian Cannabis policy more than the growing meth problem in the US. Now I could believe he does not care about how Canada deals with Meth, but I cannot accept the statement above as true. I therefor regard it as another Walter's lie."The best research tends to show that the decriminalization of marijuana has little to no impact on levels of use," The one thing I am sick of is "It will increase use argument." So what? It implies an unleashing of harm that will be intolerable. What is the harm of all the use now? It cuts down on alcohol sales and prescription medicine. I acknowledge the unnecessary harm of smoking and the particle inhalation, but legalization would give us vaporizors and cannabis soup. I want my soup and if cannabis use does not go up, there is unnecessary harm to some people in society. This "It will increase use" crap totally pisses me off. The big criticism of the medical profession is they do not do enough to help people manage pain. No cannabis- lots of pain. More cannabis- less pain, both mental and physical.It is stupid to engage the arguement. It is like saying that in a world where many people don't even get 800 calories a day, why would you want people to eat less. People are starving for Pete's sake. It is a screwed up premise that should be rephrased to a more specific concern.
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on May 18, 2003 at 12:40:58 PT
global_warming 
Wouldn't that be nice. Someone with common sense. I thought laws were to be based on using common sense but they sure aren't. John Walters is so far out there that it is scary.
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Comment #3 posted by global_warming on May 18, 2003 at 12:34:28 PT:
I vote for Ethan Nadelmann as new "Drug Czar"
Maybe cannabis users need a powerful, national spokesman. Ethan Nadelmann can sure handle himself, I vote for him.
I wonder if he has ever thought of running for some national u.s. office?
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on May 18, 2003 at 11:43:50 PT
Ethan Nadelmann
I hope you can click on this link and watch the video. It was really good to see Ethan Nadelmann talking about Cannabis and the laws instead of treatment issues. 
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on May 18, 2003 at 11:06:49 PT
CTV Videos
http://www.ctv.ca/generic/generated/news/Canada.html
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