cannabisnews.com: Canada Moves To Decriminalize Marijuana





Canada Moves To Decriminalize Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on May 27, 2003 at 22:14:58 PT
By Colin Nickerson
Source: Times Argus 
Montreal — Despite sharp criticisms from the Bush administration, Canada Tuesday introduced federal legislation that removes criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana. White House officials immediately warned that such “decriminalization” will result in more smuggling of powerful hydroponically-grown pot from the north and increase cannabis use among Americans. 
“Canada is an exploding source of highly-potent marijuana,” said John Walters, director of the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy, in a phone interview. “It’s a multibillion-dollar industry and most of the production is headed south.” U.S. Ambassador Paul Cellucci earlier this month hinted that northern border checks will become more stringent — resulting in travel delays and huge added costs to Canadian exporters — if the country loosens its marijuana laws. Walters stopped short of threatening a border crackdown if Canada passes the bill — and passage seems inevitable given the commanding majority Prime Minister Jean Chretien enjoys in Parliament — but pointedly noted that such countries as Mexico and Colombia support eradication of marijuana crops while “Canada seems to be going in another direction.” “We don’t want the border with Canada looking like the U.S.-Mexico border,” Walters said, an allusion to the almost military-style border patrols along the southern boundary compared to the traditionally relaxed controls to the north. Canadian Justice Minister Martin Cauchon, calling his country “a different place with different values,” said Canadians no longer believe in imposing criminal sanctions for smoking marijuana or possessing a pocketful of joints. “Does it make sense that a person who makes a bad choice can receive the lasting burden of a criminal conviction?” Cauchon asked rhetorically at an Ottawa news conference. “A criminal conviction can limit career opportunities and make travel to other countries difficult.” Canadian officials stressed that the bill does not legalize marijuana but instead is meant to ensure that small-time users, especially young people, do not gain lifetime criminal records for puffing on the intoxicating weed. Under the proposed law, which drew fire from Canadian police and antisubstance-abuse groups, a person caught in possession of 15 grams of marijuana — about half an ounce, enough for 15 to 20 joints — or less would recieve a citation equivalent to a parking ticket, with penalties ranging from a verbal warning to a $292 fine for adults who repeatedly offend. Users under 18 years of age would receive lesser penalties but might be required to undergo counseling. Those caught with 15 to 30 grams could be charged with criminal possession or simply ticketed, according to the discretion of the arresting officer. Possession of more than 30 grams would remain a criminal offense. Government officials tried to present the bill as a “get tough” measure, since it also doubles the maximum penalty for growing marijuana — to 14 years’ imprisonment — and authorizes expenditure of $179 million for drug education and treatment. But Canadian judges seldom hand out maximum penalties, and police in Canada are skeptical about the bill. For example, they complain, dealers caught lurking near schoolyards face only a fine as long as they keep their wares stashed away and only small amounts on their persons. “Situations like that demand a stronger response than a ticket,” said David Griffin, spokesman for the Canadian Police Association, noting that marijuana is often a “gateway drug” leading to more serious narcotics abuse. Another group strongly opposed to the bill is the Canadian chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. “This is playing politics over public safety,” said Andrew Murrie, national director of MADD-Canada. But the most biting criticisms of the proposed law have come from Washington, where the Bush White House has been adamant that the liberalization of Canadian marijuana laws will boost drug use among Americans. An estimated $2.5 billion worth a year of “B.C. Bud” and “Quebec Gold” — nicknames for some of the powerful hydroponic-grown marijuana — reaches American pot puffers, according to law enforcment agencies. Walters described the pot situation in Canada as “out of control — hydroponic production is growing from British Columbia to Manitoba to Quebec, run by outlaw biker gangs, and most of it flowing right to the US.” Canada has sought to assuage American concerns, sending high-level envoys to Washington this month to discuss the law with Walters, Secretary General John Ashcroft, and other figures in the Bush administration. But the controversial bill remains yet another irritant in the rancorous relations between the two neighbors — Canada refused to support the US-led war in Iraq and has declined U.S. requests to overhaul its liberal refugee rules. Canadian Health Minister Anne McLellan said that “most Canadians” support the decriminalization of marijuana, and that use of pot should be a health issue, not a law enforcement issue. The new law includes $179 million for education and treatment programs aimed at combating drug use among youths. “One would hope that nobody would smoke, whether tobacco or marijuana,” McLellan said. “We would like everyone to quit smoking.” Source: Times Argus (VT)Author: Colin Nickerson, The Boston Globe Published: May 28, 2003Copyright: 2003 Times ArgusContact: info timesargus.comWebsite: http://timesargus.nybor.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmCanada May Allow Small Amounts of Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16416.shtmlCanada 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 #6 posted by FoM on May 28, 2003 at 15:06:11 PT
Thanks afterburner
You know this question bothered me. Do You Believe Marijuana Use Leads To Abuse of Harder Drugs?I do not believe that people go on to hard drugs because of using Cannabis but I believe it is easier to blame Cannabis for the ills of some that do go on to hard drugs and become addicted then to look inside ourselves and figure out why some go on to hard drugs even though most don't. It's time to start thinking America!
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Comment #5 posted by afterburner on May 28, 2003 at 14:55:02 PT:
Creeping Up.
Globe Poll 
Do You Believe Marijuana Use Leads To Abuse of Harder Drugs?Current Results Yes -- 6771 votes -- (38 %) No -- 11042 votes -- (62 %) Total Votes: 17813 http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030527.wpott0527_5/BNStory/National/It's too bad they didn't have a choice: H*LL NO. It's shocking that 38% of the people still buy that stepping stone/gateway lie. I was in the supermarket today and bought a newspaper. The decrim story made lead story and the clerk commented, "So pot is legal now?" To which the previous customer, an older lady replied, "It's terrible." We have a lot of work to do to educate people about the Truth we've been sharing with each other these many months and years. ego transcendence follows ego destruction, person to person, one by one, until there is no problem.
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on May 28, 2003 at 08:03:30 PT
Poll: Please Vote!
Do You Believe Marijuana Use Leads To Abuse of Harder Drugs?Current Results 
Yes -- 3935 votes  -- (39 %) 
No -- 6253 votes -- (61 %) 
 
Total Votes: 10188 http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030527.wpott0527_5/BNStory/National/
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Comment #3 posted by Active8 on May 28, 2003 at 05:05:17 PT
Put Your Money Where Mouth Is!!!
“We don’t want the border with Canada looking like the U.S.-Mexico border,” Walters said, an allusion to the almost military-style border patrols along the southern boundary compared to the traditionally relaxed controls to the north. 
Ok...so let us do the math... 2 soldiers(so they can take turns at lookout)posted every 1/4 mile working an 8 hour patrol. 3 shifts per day(every day of the year). Over 5000 miles of border to protect. Average salary per soldier $25K. Rough total per year....$600,000,000. And that is if those poor guys are standing out in the open. If each patrol needs a Hum V add another $200,000,000 (or more) And I am sure you can think of hundreds of other ways American tax dollars can be pissed away....So I say "Go for it"... At a billion plus dollars a year I am sure you will win your war on Mj.
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Comment #2 posted by WolfgangWylde on May 28, 2003 at 04:28:54 PT
I seriously doubt...
...this will pass Parliament. Chretien's a lame duck. He just knows that the Courts are going to legalize if they don't appear to be trying to get some sort of de-crim passed (a fact which somehow seems to be escaping the press). The next PM is a staunch Prohibitionist, who parrots the U.S. rhetoric on the Drug War. Its up to the courts. If they don't legalize it on the basis of constitutional grounds, it will never happen. Any easing of the current law will be rolled back by the next PM.
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on May 27, 2003 at 22:45:54 PT
POLL: From The Globe and Mail
Globe Poll Do You Believe Marijuana Use Leads To Abuse of Harder Drugs?Current Results Yes -- 1309 votes  -- (39 %) No -- 2076 votes  -- (61 %) Total Votes: 3385 http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030527.wpott0527_5/BNStory/National/
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