cannabisnews.com: New Pot Law Coming Tuesday New Pot Law Coming Tuesday Posted by CN Staff on May 27, 2003 at 06:35:08 PT By CBC News Online Staff Source: CBC Ottawa - Ottawa will spend millions on drug prevention programs when it decriminalizes possession of small amounts of marijuana in Canada. With its new marijuana bill to be introduced Tuesday, the government is adding $245 million over five years for drug enforcement, education and treatment. The new money is intended to offset concerns the decriminalizing of possession of pot will lead to an increase in drug use. Justice Minister Martin Cauchon says no one should get a criminal record for possessing a small amount of marijuana. If his cannabis reform bill passes, adults caught with less than 15 grams of marijuana will be given a ticket and face a $150 fine. Youth will pay a $100 fine. Fines will be higher for possession of hashish. In the same bill, though, are tougher penalties for illegally growing and trafficking pot. Sentences will double for those offences. Ottawa will also give millions to drug education and treatment programs. Health Minister Anne McLellan says it's to help deal with an expected spike in marijuana use. But Canadian Police Association spokesman David Griffin says police lack the resources to deal with pot growing operations. He says police need to be able to lay criminal charges against adults caught with even small amounts of pot near a school or in a car. "Those situations, we believe, demand a stronger response than simply producing a ticket," said Griffin. Cauchon says the new bill makes it clear that marijuana use is still illegal, but possession of small amounts will no longer make you a criminal. Big Picture: Marijuana: http://www.cbc.ca/news/indepth/marijuana/Source: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Published: Tuesday, May 27, 2003Copyright: 2003 CBCContact: letters cbc.ca Website: http://www.cbc.ca/Related Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmPot Bill To Be Paired with Anti-Drug Initiative http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16396.shtmlOttawa To Preach Perils of Pot http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16395.shtmlNo Laws Ban Possession of Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16321.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #12 posted by FoM on May 27, 2003 at 09:50:34 PT afterburner We aren't getting anything so far. They said that there will be news on the National tonight. I'll keep the channel on and hope we see more of what you are seeing on your canadian cable. We need more Canadian news down here. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by afterburner on May 27, 2003 at 09:41:36 PT: FoM- I'm on Canadian Cable Did you get the press conference with The Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Health, the Honourable Martin Cauchon, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and the Honourable Wayne Easter, Solicitor General of Canada? I have that part on VT, but ran out during the press question period. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on May 27, 2003 at 09:13:55 PT afterburner I'm not getting what you are. Hopefully it will be on here soon. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by FoM on May 27, 2003 at 09:11:42 PT afterburner We haven't changed from NWI and nothing about what is happening today has been on here. I wonder why? Do you have Direct TV?As I'm writing this it is on! [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by afterburner on May 27, 2003 at 09:01:29 PT: A Medical Cannabis Patient's Story It's heart-breaking what this woman with epilepsy has to put up with. Eventhough she's a medical cannabis exemptee, she had to spend $100,000 on the black market to get her medicine. In trying to grow it to save money, her home was invaded by thieves who punched her in the face, put a gun in her daughter's face, and stole her medicine. This woman's righteous indignation shows the future: the medical cannabis community will continue to fight the cruel Canadian cannabis laws, even after decriminalization [sic] / recriminalization. Medical necessity has not been adequately addressed. God bless all the medical cannabis patients; we will fight on at your side until this madness ceases. Alan Young is on now. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by afterburner on May 27, 2003 at 08:45:25 PT: Coming Up Next on Newsworld A medical cannabis user speaks out. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by afterburner on May 27, 2003 at 08:39:44 PT: Cato Institute Representative Speaking Now On Newsworld. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by afterburner on May 27, 2003 at 08:10:43 PT: I'm Taping It Too The courts will continue to rule on challenges to the old law if their concerns about legal supply for medical patients are not addressed. The Canadian Supreme Court ruling on the old law is due in July, before likely passage of the new law. The cycle of court challenges will continue.btw, it's the Solicitor General, not the Attorney General.The biggest problem, so far, in what I've heard is the government's inability to separate cannabis use and supply from the acknowledged dangerous drugs, like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine.The government's statement of reducing the demand and supply of cannabis sound too much like US-style DEAland approach. If the law passes, Canadian cannabis users will "take a silver bullet" for the team. Two steps forward in the courts, one step backward in the parliament. But the fears of the US regarding this small change to Canada's cannabis policy is worth some sacrifice by Canadian cannabis culture to demonstrate the folly of the war on drugs no-knock zero-tolerance SWAT-team and caging approach."The truth is an offense, but not a [crime]" -Bob Marleyego transcendence follows ego destruction, heart by heart, law by law, court case by court case, until there is no problem.I hope you're getting it all. I just ran out of tape just as a question was asked of the government to justify their rationale for keeping cannabis illegal. Of course, they did not directly address that question. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on May 27, 2003 at 07:42:10 PT afterburner We have NWI on now and we are going to try to tape it. This is not going to sit well I'm sure. Is the court ruling that there are no laws concerning possession still valid or does what is going on today make that decision null and void? I sure hope not! That would be terrible! [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by afterburner on May 27, 2003 at 07:35:53 PT: Breaking News: Federal Ministers Announce New Law http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread16384.shtml#8 [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on May 27, 2003 at 07:26:00 PT CBC TV Schedule News World Internationl is on Channel 366 on Direct TV. I hope many of you will be able to watch what is happening today in Canada. I don't know if cable carries this channel. I hope so.http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread16384.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on May 27, 2003 at 07:17:18 PT CBC TV Video http://www.cbc.ca/MRL/clips/ram-lo/dunn_pot030527.ram [ Post Comment ] Post Comment