cannabisnews.com: Canada Seeks To Change Drugs Law





Canada Seeks To Change Drugs Law
Posted by CN Staff on May 27, 2003 at 16:38:48 PT
By Mike Fox, BBC Correspondent in Montreal 
Source: BBC News UK
The Canadian Government has introduced controversial new legislation to relax its laws on marijuana possession despite strong criticism from the United States. The bill - now before parliament - recommends that those caught with 15 grams or less of the drug will only be fined and will not get a criminal record or jail term. But the legislation will also toughen penalties for those caught growing large quantities of marijuana and give new money to drug education programmes. 
Canada is pressing ahead with the legislation despite months of lobbying against the plan by its southern neighbour. American drugs tsar John Walters has warned that security at the border might have to be tightened in an effort to stop an expected increase in marijuana smuggling. That could harm the $1bn-a-day trade between the two countries.  Inconsistencies But most people in Canada support the change in the law. Opinion polls show that about 70% of Canadians think that a small fine is the appropriate punishment for being caught with a small amount of marijuana, rather than a criminal record as at present. And over the past three years a series of court cases that effectively approved the medical use of marijuana, have highlighted problems and inconsistencies in the current law, putting more pressure on the government. Canada's Justice Minister Martin Cauchon told the BBC that the new legislation will mean a more consistent approach to drugs. "Is there a way to be more efficient in terms of enforcement? Is there a way as well to be more efficient in terms of fighting organising crime, drug trafficking and cultivation?" he asked. "Yes there are ways and that's exactly what we are doing at the present time. "And I know perfectly that in the United States side, when they look at what I would like to do exactly, I'm sure they will understand it's about being more effective and more efficient."  'Out of control' His officials point out that 12 US states along with Australia and several European countries have already adopted similar policies without causing big changes in marijuana use. Mr Cauchon recently visited Washington for talks about the legislation with Attorney General John Ashcroft. That did not stop the White House's Mr Walters continuing to be highly critical of Canada's plans. He said Canada's marijuana problem was "out of control" - there has been a five-fold increase in seizures at the US northern border since 1998. Canada's police forces confirm they have seen a big rise in "grow-ops" that produce high-quality marijuana. Mr Walters says Canada's marijuana it is now far stronger than a decade ago, and is causing major health problems for American youngsters. "Right now we're being inundated with high-potency marijuana," Mr Walters told the BBC. "When it's more available, when there's less social pressure not to use it, you get more use and in this case with these substances it produces more dependence." Popular measure This is hardly the only issue causing strains between the two countries. On top of several serious trade disputes, Canada refused to support the US war against Iraq. As apparent retaliation, President George W Bush postponed a long-planned trip to Ottawa this month to visit Prime Minister Jean Chretien. But most Canadians questioned in by the BBC in a straw poll in Montreal support their government. Matthew, a 42-year-old computer programmer and regular marijuana user, said it was a waste of government money to fight against marijuana which he sees as much less harmful than alcohol or other drugs. "I think it should be completely legalised - as soon as it's not on the black market the government has much more control over organised crime. But this is a step in the right direction." Julie, 20, who works in a corner shop, said: "I think everybody smokes marijuana so we need to change the laws. I don't smoke it myself but I still support this change." But a psychologist and father of two, Frankie, says the move sends the wrong moral message to children. "This is a political stunt that suggests it's OK to experiment with drugs - we need to give a clear message about this, especially as marijuana is becoming much stronger." Source: BBC News (UK Web) Author: Mike Fox, BBC Correspondent in Montreal Published: Tuesday, May 27, 2003Copyright: 2003 BBC Contact: newsonline bbc.co.ukWebsite: http://news.bbc.co.uk/ Related Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmCanada Moves to Ease Marijuana Possession Lawhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16407.shtmlOttawa Causes a Stir With Marijuana Bill http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16406.shtml 
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Comment #4 posted by Rainbow on May 27, 2003 at 19:18:04 PT
A point of pessimism
I am wondering if this is good or bad.The good is most of us or you who can afford the high cost of the drug will be pleased. We can afford the 100 police ticket too. There may be some who cannot.But the bad tells me this is a shot in the arm for organized crime. The risk just got high (no pun) and the cost of the drug might get high too.Sounds like it might actually be a rachetting up of the War on Drugs. They are going to spend more on traffikers. And I wonder how much pot it will take to be a traffiker. 1 once or maybe 2 I hope my version is wrong.Does this also indicate a great timing for the Supreme court issuance? We agree the law was no good so here is our change. Then another cycle of law, court, quilty appeal, runined life, appeal, appeal, Supreme Court.Well we need someone smart to sort all this negative stuff out.Thanks,
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Comment #3 posted by mayan on May 27, 2003 at 18:33:37 PT
Crooked Cops
Here's an interseting article about some crooked cops down in Australia...Police charged over heroin:
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/05/26/1053801345862.htmlThe way out IS the way in...The Top 150 Subpoena list for the 9/11 Commission:
http://new.globalfreepress.com/article.pl?sid=03/05/26/0450229New Panel, Independent of 9/11 Commission, Is Sought:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A28914-2003May22?language=printerStill shrouded in secrecy: 9/11
http://onlinejournal.com/Commentary/052303Heard2/052303heard2.htmlTHE JET FUEL; HOW HOT DID IT HEAT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER?
http://www.uscrusade.com/forum/config.pl/read/1064Exposing NORAD's Wag The 91/1 Window Dressing Tale:
http://www.standdown.net/index.htmMike Ruppert on Amy Goodman and the 9/11 Latecomers:
http://www.questionsquestions.net/docs04/0518_ruppert911.html
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Comment #2 posted by afterburner on May 27, 2003 at 18:16:30 PT:
Political Stunt?
But a psychologist and father of two, Frankie, says the move sends the wrong moral message to children. "This is a political stunt that suggests it's OK to experiment with drugs - we need to give a clear message about this, especially as marijuana is becoming much stronger." 
If the unconstitutional law that used to regulate cannabis were still in effect, some people would get a discharge, some would not be arrested, some would be caged. So, Mr. Frankie, would you rather have your children in a cage if they slipped and experimented? How does a fine "encourage" a child to break a law?Whiskey is stronger than beer, cigars are stronger than cigarettes, adult cough medicine is stronger than children's cough medicine: what kind of message do these send to the children?ego transcendence follows ego destruction, when all the fear and anger are overcome.
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Comment #1 posted by Lehder on May 27, 2003 at 17:31:57 PT
word up!
>>The bill - now before parliament - recommends that those
   caught with 15 grams or less of the drug will only be fined and will not get
   a criminal record or jail term. The upshot of the new policy will be the coining of a colloquialism that denotes a half ounce of marijuana; a half ounce will be the new standard measure for sales and casual possession. I have no idea what the new word or expression will be. >>His officials point out that 12 US states along with Australia and several European
   countries have already adopted similar policies without causing big changes in marijuana
   use. No. Marijuana consumption is acceptable in most European countries; it is not ticketed or fined. After all, smoking marijuana is a normal and healthful activity.
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