cannabisnews.com: Critics Denounce New Drug Policy Critics Denounce New Drug Policy Posted by CN Staff on May 28, 2003 at 10:00:40 PT By Janice Tibbetts, CanWest News Service Source: Ottawa Citizen The Chrétien government introduced a new drug policy yesterday that was denounced as a bust because it is easier on young people than adults who smoke marijuana and hashish, decriminalizes driving with drugs in a vehicle, and commits to spending less than half the amount the Liberals had promised to counter Canada's multibillion-dollar drug problem.Justice Minister Martin Cauchon said he hopes his controversial bill to decriminalize less than 15 grams of marijuana -- which drew immediate opposition from police, the political opposition and even members of the Liberal caucus -- will become law by the end of the year. Canadians under 18 who are caught with less than 15 grams of marijuana would receive $100 fines and adults would be ticketed $150. Fines would increase to $250 for youths and $400 for adults for possession while driving, committing an offence or being caught in or near a school.Police estimated that 15 grams is the equivalent of 15 to 30 joints, depending on how they are rolled.Possession of one gram or less of hashish would warrant fines starting at $200. "Let me be clear from the beginning, we are not legalizing marijuana and we have no plans to do so," cautioned Mr. Cauchon, sensitive to complaints domestically and in the United States that Canada is relaxing its drug laws.His proposals also include an array of penalties to counter an escalation in marijuana grow houses run by organized crime, with the maximum sentence being doubled to 14 years from the current seven.The legislation was accompanied by the renewal of a lapsed national drug strategy, which will focus on an advertising campaign to convince Canadians that drugs are dangerous, put money into community prevention and treatment programs and give the RCMP an extra $57 million to counter the grow operations that have sprouted in neighbourhoods across the country."Let me be clear, we do not want Canadians to use marijuana, we especially do not want young Canadians to use marijuana," said Health Minister Anne McLellan. "We are going to be sending a lot of powerful messages around the harmful effects of drug use."The strategy, however, pledges to spend $245 million in the next five years, less than half of the $440 million over four years that the Liberal government promised in its 2000 election platform.The new funding, the bulk of which will be spent in the final years of the strategy, amounts to about a 10-per-cent increase to the $500 million annually that the federal government now spends to fight illegal drug use.Dave Griffin, executive director of the Canadian Police Association, described the federal initiative as "a hastily put together package hung together by Band-aids and duct tape."One of the association's numerous concerns is that there are no minimum penalties for marijuana grow operations, even though judges routinely hand down jail sentences of about six months to one year for the most serious offenders. Police want to retain discretion to lay criminal charges instead of handing out fines, particularly for repeat offenders and people caught driving while impaired.Mr. Cauchon predicted that police would be more apt to enforce the law against marijuana possession if the consequences are not as harsh."Most people just get off with a warning," Mr. Cauchon said. "Is that what we want as a society? No. It leads to disrespect for the law."For Canadians caught with 15 to 30 grams of marijuana, police will retain discretion whether to charge fines or lay criminal charges.The Liberals were accused in the House of Commons yesterday of further alienating the United States, which has been vocal about its opposition to marijuana decriminalization.Solicitor General Wayne Easter said that the Liberals have heard the complaints loud and clear."At the end of the day, the government has to make a judgment call," he said. "Certainly there will be some reaction. But they understand that we have the sovereign right to make our own laws."Randy White, the Canadian Alliance's solicitor-general critic, predicted that the new drug strategy will fail --just as its predecessor did -- because there is no one in charge. Among other things, the government ignored a Commons committee's recommendation to spend $1.5 million on the office of a national drug co-ordinator, similar to the national drug czar in the U.S.On the opposite end of the political spectrum, NDP Leader Jack Layton called for legalization so that there would be no penalties for possession.The proposed legislation is on a tight timetable to be passed before Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, one of its strongest promoters, retires early next year. Liberal MP Joe Fontana said backbenchers still have a number of concerns and won't be in any rush to vote for the bill."I'm not sure that there's a big appetite to move this thing as quickly through the process as possible," he said.The Canadian Medical Association said the government should be putting more money toward a "meaningful" national drug strategy before it decriminalizes marijuana."Marijuana is an addictive substance that is known to have adverse health effects and we strongly advise Canadians against its use," the association said.Mothers Against Drunk Driving called on Mr. Cauchon to delay decriminalization until police have the technology to enforce drug-impaired driving. As it now stands, there is no comparable test to the breathalyser for drunk driving. Local police forces, which share responsibility for enforcing drug laws, including the crackdown on grow operations, did not receive an increase in funding yesterday because they fall under provincial jurisdiction.This poses a problem in Canada's two largest provinces -- Ontario and Quebec -- which rely on provincial police forces rather than the RCMP.Janice Tibbetts, with files from Joan Bryden. Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)Author: Janice Tibbetts, CanWest News Service Published: Wednesday, May 28, 2003Copyright: 2003 The Ottawa CitizenContact: letters thecitizen.southam.caWebsite: http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/ Related Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmLegalize Pot, Says Mayor Campbellhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16423.shtmlA Realistic Revision of The Cannabis Lawhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16421.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by afterburner on May 28, 2003 at 13:56:10 PT: LTE to thestar.com May. 28, 2003. 10:49 AM - Voices: Gone to pot! - The federal government wants to decriminalize the use of marijuana because the current law is unenforceable, but wants to get tough on growers and dealers. We asked your opinion and here's what you had to say: A wolf in sheep's clothing. This proposal will cost the taxpayers plenty in policing costs and reduce civil liberties. Wait until they break down your door and wave a gun in your face looking for an illegal grow-op at the wrong address.afterburnerNote: First/Last Name, email address, and city required. Voices: Gone to pot! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by VitaminT on May 28, 2003 at 13:30:27 PT bass akwards that's what I call it. This law will invite more violent crime by increasing penalties against growers and transporters. It will allow increased demand even as it attempts to further supress supply. Mark these words: This will be a disaster!The most hard-core prohibitionists couldn't conjure up a more destructive law in their wettest drug-war dreams. What is John Walters complaining about? This law will give him all the prohibition meyhem he craves! This will bring American style murder, official corruption and prison growth to Canada. What's next? Statehood? [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on May 28, 2003 at 11:42:08 PT Article from Snipped Source Compassion Club Director Says Law is a 'Non-Starter' By Ann Carroll, The Gazette Wednesday, May 28, 2003 Federal Justice Minister Martin Cauchon is blowing smoke with his proposal to decriminalize simple pot possession, marijuana advocates say. The legislation falls far short of legalizing pot or its cultivation for recreational or medicinal use, noted Marc-Boris St-Maurice, director of the Montreal Compassion Club, a non-profit organization that acquires and sells marijuana to about 300 walk-in and Internet clients with medical conditions.Snipped:Complete Article: http://www.canada.com/montreal/news/story.asp?id=D23E4B13-74B2-4C81-90DD-747EB5090C62 [ Post Comment ] Post Comment