cannabisnews.com: Canada Poised To Ease Drug Possession Laws Canada Poised To Ease Drug Possession Laws Posted by CN Staff on June 08, 2003 at 23:24:35 PT By James Koivunen, For the Daily Source: Michigan Daily The Controlled Drug and Substances Act will keep marijuana illegal in Canada, but a bill has been proposed that would lessen the penalties for possession. Marijuana use is on the rise and the support for incarceration as a penalty is falling, according to a statement released by Health Canada, a department of the Canadian government that is responsible for developing health policies.The proposed plan would reduce penalties for those possessing small amounts of marijuana and strengthen penalties for those found to be growing or distributing. "They'll just focus on more serious offenses like trafficking and dealing," explained Sgt. Ed McNorton, spokesman for the Windsor Police Department.A person caught with up to 15 grams would no longer face federal offense-type punishment, rather a small fine. "It's like a traffic ticket," McNorton said. The penalty for an adult would be $150 Canadian, around $110 U.S.But the maximum penalty for growing would double; offenders could be sentenced to 14 years in prison instead of seven. Trafficking remains the most serious offense, with a possible sentence of life in prison. By concentrating on the more serious offenses, the Canadian government hopes to "free up the courts in a lot of these small instances," McNorton said. Canadian officials hope to eliminate court costs that would create funding (an expected $150 million) for an anti-drug research, education, and treatment campaignAccording to a written statement, Justice Minister Martin Cauchon promised the Canadian people this alternative punishment is in no way a foreshadow to legalization. McNorton maintained legalization was not on the horizon for our neighboring country. "There's been no talk of that. The public would not welcome it," he said. "We've preached the message 'say no to drugs,'" he added.But the public is in favor of softer penalties for marijuana possession said Noel Kent, a 22-year-old student at the University of Toronto and lifetime resident of Milton, Ontario. "General consensus is that (Canadians) are all for it, although the general consensus smokes marijuana," Kent said.He added that he still supports decriminalization, but said he feels his government should take things one step further. "I'm thinking they should completely legalize it. The government would generate huge profits off of it," Kent said. "They're going to make money instead of just throwing away a joint," Kent added."Everyone is for it. Only the police force shows opposition, and even that is divided," Kent said. This opposition is visible through the uneasiness McNorton and the rest of the Windsor Police Department have shown toward the proposed legislation. Through this "alternative punishment" plan there are specific amounts of marijuana that generate specific penalties - this is what creates concern. "We want police discretion. There could be aggravating circumstances. With each situation there are circumstances to consider," McNorton said.With a border stretching more than 5,000 miles, President George Bush has cautioned Canada that the U.S. would increase border patrol if marijuana possession was decriminalized. Government officials believe that lighter penalties in Canada would increase drug activity in the U.S. Canadian officials are just as concerned with this possible increase in marijuana commotion. "As with any new legislation you just have to wait to see how they affect you," McNorton said. LSA junior Ru Talati said she also resonates the President's concern and is therefore skeptical of easing up on drug policies. "I don't think it's a good idea," Talati added. "It's a great idea in theory, but there are a lot of unforeseeable repercussions that could occur," Talati said. "One that I see is between the border and what's going to happen there."The close proximity to the border and a change in Canadian drug laws could have an effect on student activities, LSA junior Christy Flanagan said. "Maybe more people will choose to go there so they can smoke with less risk," Flanagan said. Flanagan added that she also believes the proposed legislation could be beneficial, adding, "They're still criminalizing the source of the problem: the people who are smuggling and distributing."Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm was unable to comment on the decriminalization in Canada because it has not been implemented. Granholm's spokeswoman, Liz Boyd, said the governor would definitely be against any measures to decriminalize drugs in her state. "If there was an effort to decriminalize in Michigan, the governor would oppose it. We will maintain (drug) education, prevention, and law enforcement," Boyd said.Source: Michigan Daily (MI Edu)Author: James Koivunen, For the DailyPublished: June 09, 2003Copyright: 2003 The Michigan DailyContact: daily.letters umich.eduWebsite: http://www.michigandaily.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htm A Border War Over Pot http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16572.shtmlOntario Backs Off Pot Arrests http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16570.shtmlWindsor Leads Way On Legal Pot http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16353.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #14 posted by afterburner on August 16, 2003 at 18:57:10 PT: ekim - In Case You're Interested California NORML http://www.canorml.org/ has a letter writing link: Support S.B. 197 - Stop Arresting Responsible Marijuana Smokers in MichiganUsing some of your information about Ann Arbor, I composed a letter asking the state legislators to support S.B. 197. The following is an excerpt: "Ann Arbor passed a marijuana decriminalization law in 1972. This is one of the reasons that Ann Arbor is in the top ten cities in the USA. How much has Ann Arbor's $25 ticket law for possession of one ounce or less of cannabis saved the taxpayer over the last 32 years? How many young people have been saved from the harsh effects of a criminal record? It's time for the State of Michigan to follow Ann Arbor's wise example.As such, I urge you to support this marijuana decriminalization bill. It is a common sense approach that will refocus law enforcement resources on fighting violent crime. Please support S.B. 197 and stop arresting responsible marijuana smokers."I also wrote the following letter detailing the damage done by cannabis prohibition: "The War on Drugs mistakenly harasses a large segment of society whose only crime is to prefer the milder relaxant of cannabis marijuana over the harsher relaxant of alcohol. The prohibition of marijuana was passed in medical ignorance, based on racist scare stories, without debate or scientific justification. Since 1937 penalties have gotten harsher with loss of college scholarships, in some cases forfeiture of property even when no conviction has been made, imprisonment, loss of income, destruction of families and loss of children, travel restrictions, loss of voting privileges, and in extreme cases death at the hands of DEA agents. All this for a plant which was given by God for our food and medicine, a plant which has never killed anyone. Unlike alcohol, the cannabis plant does not present a road hazard, does not encourage wife abuse or child abuse, and does not result in terrible health problems like cirrhosis of the liver. Why are adults who choose to smoke marijuana responsibly threatened by law enforcement, deprived of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and generally treated as second-class citizens? Please consider introducing or supporting legislation that will remove this burden from adult cannabis smokers. This does not send a bad message to the children. Many 'drugs' are forbidden to children, including tobacco and alcohol. Alcohol prohibition was an unmitigated failure, which fuelled organized crime, prevented access to safe alcohol, and cost the state, local, and federal governments tax money which they could ill afford. For such reasons alcohol prohibition was repealed. Many similar effects have arisen due to marijuana prohibition. It is time to repeal another failed policy. For more information visit http://www.cannabisnews.com or http://www.norml.org ." [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by ekim on June 09, 2003 at 20:01:26 PT AnnArbor has a ticket law for 32 years Will some one tell Gov Granholm's spokeswoman, Liz Boyd to tell her that Ann Arbor is doing fine thank you very much. By the way it is one of the reasons that AA is in the top ten citys in the USA. Let alone in MI. Where is the cost benifit analysis of how much that the ticket law for small amounts of Cannabis has saved the taxpayer over the last 32 years, not to mention how many young people have been saved the harsh evects of a criminal record. Please some student do a paper on this if you are going to U.Of Mi. because it seems that the news paper people won't, and the Gov't won't [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by afterburner on June 09, 2003 at 16:03:41 PT: Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm. More evidence that there is no difference between Republicans, like former Michigan Governor John Engler, and Democrats, like the present Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm: they are both prohibitionists. Both would rather treat a health issue as a criminal justice issue. Both would rather cage humans for using a God-given plant. You won't get my vote again.ego transcendence follows ego destruction, person to person, vote by vote, critical mass is coming, prohibitionists better duck. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by lombar on June 09, 2003 at 11:55:02 PT I needed some new lining for my birdcage anyway... McNorton maintained legalization was not on the horizon for our neighboring country. "There's been no talk of that. The public would not welcome it," he said. That's funny, I thought you were a cop, I didn't know you had the super power of esp to KNOW what the public wants? You just know what your prohibitionist friends want. Now I can sleep safe know police like this KNOW EVERYTHING and can solve all the crimes..(NOT)"I don't think it's a good idea," Talati added. (remove every thing after 'think' and it would be a more accurate statement) [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by kaptinemo on June 09, 2003 at 08:27:52 PT: A college student...who doesn't think... Well, what else is new?*"LSA junior Ru Talati said she also resonates the President's concern and is therefore skeptical of easing up on drug policies. "I don't think it's a good idea," Talati added. "It's a great idea in theory, but there are a lot of unforeseeable repercussions that could occur," Talati said. "One that I see is between the border and what's going to happen there."Obviously, colleges have been remiss in their handling of America history; prior to 1914 there were no Federal laws infringing on an individuals right to be sovereign over their own bodies and buy any damn' thing they pleased to put in them. As a result, our great grandparents were freer than we are today. A fact which seems to have slipped the consciousness of this sophomoric junior. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by FoM on June 09, 2003 at 07:23:29 PT The GCW While I was setting up this article to post I thought of you and Reverand Adler. Here it is.http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread16577.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by The GCW on June 09, 2003 at 05:40:13 PT brothers - neighbors - friends - family Peaceful Ones:Are We in the midst “of the confused affairs of a planet retarded by rebellion and resting under the ban of spiritual isolation.”? -Urantia, page 821, subtitled paper 73, THE GARDEN OF EDEN."WE ARE THE ASSEMBLY OF THE RIGHTEOUS." We are scattered, but yet We are still a nation and We are His who sent Us.The Green Collar Worker [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by mayan on June 09, 2003 at 03:59:23 PT Look Out Freedom is coming. Look out. It doesn't matter if your eyes are open or not. Change will stay the same anyway. FREEDOM. Do You recognize that word? What do I mean? Feel IT. IT'S Comin'!!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by mayan on June 09, 2003 at 03:23:35 PT >>> The time is now again. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by mayan on June 09, 2003 at 03:21:58 PT Sue The F*ck Outa... Em'. Just DO It. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by mayan on June 09, 2003 at 03:18:16 PT Sue Em' All Sue em' all! [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by mayan on June 09, 2003 at 03:16:31 PT Sue Em' Sue Em' [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by mayan on June 09, 2003 at 03:15:07 PT SUE Sue [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by mayan on June 09, 2003 at 03:13:40 PT NO Just say NO to REcriminalization. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment