cannabisnews.com: Maine Has It Right Maine Has It Right Posted by CN Staff on May 30, 2003 at 09:27:35 PT By David Swick, The Daily News Source: Daily News Wondering what life would be like if marijuana was decriminalized? Just look over the U.S. border — to the state of Maine. Our nearest American neighbour decriminalized marijuana in the mid-’70s, almost 30 years ago.Possessing less than 35 grams of marijuana is a civil violation in Maine, punishable by a fine. That’s more than twice as much as the 15 grams of marijuana that Ottawa is proposing to decriminalize. Are Canadian border towns constantly having to deal with problems spilling across the line? Police Chief Jean Real Michaud of Grand Falls, N.B., which lies just a few wooded kilometres from the U.S., says he has not had any problems with Maine’s marijuana laws. In fact, he didn’t even know it’s decriminalized.“We have quite a few visitors,” Michaud said, “but so far we haven’t had any problems with that.” Calm over the border Things are calm on the other side of the border, too. Only 80 people were arrested by state police for drug crimes in 2001, and the grand total of marijuana seized by state police was 5.8 kilograms.Almost 1.3 million people live in Maine, but only 1,740 are in jail. And Maine ranks an impressively low 48th out of the 50 states for violent crime.“Everyone knows someone who smokes pot,” says Cindi Ellen O’Connor of the Maine Chapter of NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.“Do you think they should be put in jail? And for how long? The penalties are so much greater than any possible harm it can do ...“Alcohol is far more dangerous. Lots of people say, ‘I’ve smoked marijuana recently, but I’ve never woken up wondering what I did last night.’”The Canadian Senate is of the same opinion. After months of research, the special committee on illegal drugs last September found that: “Scientific evidence overwhelmingly indicates that cannabis is substantially less harmful than alcohol and should be treated not as a criminal issue but as a social and public health issue.” The committee also said that marijuana is not a “gateway” to harder drugs such as cocaine and heroin.Civilization has not come to an end in Maine. In contrast, the state appears to now take marijuana in stride. It is no longer wasting copious amounts of money and energy on a hopeless and hypocritical battle to keep people from enjoying marijuana.Compare that with Canada’s recent record. Someone was arrested every 10 minutes for a marijuana-related crime in 2001 — a total of 49,639 Canadians.The federal Justice Department says that 600,000 Canadians have criminal records for marijuana possession. Having a record can hurt your chance at schooling, jobs and travel.Come to senses Maine, 11 other U.S. states, and many European countries have come to their senses and stopped calling simple possession of marijuana a crime. It is high time we did the same. Or will hundreds of thousands more Canadians with small amounts of marijuana be punished by criminal records and jail time?Prime Minister Jean Chretien’s swan song presents us with a rare opportunity.If we do not take the reasonable step of decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana now, it could easily be 10 or 20 years — or more — before the chance comes again.Note: Simple possession of pot has not been a criminal matter in this border state for nearly 30 years.Source: Daily News, The (CN NS)Author: David Swick, The Daily News Published: Friday, May 30, 2003Copyright: 2003 The Daily News Contact: letterstoeditor hfxnews.southam.caWebsite: http://www.canada.com/halifax/dailynews/Related Articles & Web Site:Maine-ly NORML57 McKay RoadNorway, ME 04268Phone: (207) 696-8879Contact: Cindi Ellen O'ConnorE-mail: MainelyNORML yahoo.com Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmWhat Have They Been Smoking in Ottawa? http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16455.shtmlPlume of Confusion with Liberals' Pot Proposal http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16451.shtmlU.S. Offers Help with Anti-Drug Campaignhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16446.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #6 posted by 420toker on May 30, 2003 at 14:01:13 PT exactly .13 is less than 4 exactly .13 is less than 4 [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Sam Adams on May 30, 2003 at 12:43:23 PT 420 I think it's .13% of their population is in jail - as in one-tenth of 1 percent, not 4...... [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Sam Adams on May 30, 2003 at 12:41:19 PT Maine Don't forget, Maine has one of the best Med. MJ laws in the US as well - you only need a doctor's recommendation to be protected, no ID card or further approval by the govt. They've had absolutely no problems whatsoever w/ their medical law. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by b4daylight on May 30, 2003 at 12:24:58 PT: maine i am movin to maine [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by 420toker on May 30, 2003 at 10:39:26 PT of course it is And they dont want that, hell they have less than 4% of their population in jail. By the feds standards thats a pretty poor record. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by billos on May 30, 2003 at 10:36:01 PT Maine You see? The results of decriminalization are right under the fedz eyes. Right in their own back yard. Yet, they fail to acknowledge it. What in God’s name will it take to force the issue?? [ Post Comment ] Post Comment