cannabisnews.com: Get a Handle On Pot Get a Handle On Pot Posted by CN Staff on June 21, 2003 at 08:39:28 PT Editorial By Sault Star Staff Source: Sault Star Thursday’s idiotic marijuana-smoking party outside Toronto police headquarters demonstrated more than the foolishness of some individuals — it pointed clearly to the need for government to do more than just decriminalize. As with many other substances, marijuana is going to have to be regulated and controlled. If legislators are particularly smart, they’ll go one better — sell and tax pot, and use the proceeds to fund increased costs of regulation. Police did nothing about the dozens of people who openly smoked the drug on police property, perhaps using the occasion for a passive-aggressive demonstration of their own. Maybe the frustrated officers were saying to proponents of decriminalization: you wanted it, now you’ve got it. Toronto police could have used the same approach as their counterparts in Sault Ste. Marie and many other locations have adopted. They could have laid trafficking charges against anyone observed to be sharing marijuana, and they could have taken the names and the drug supply of all those who possessed a small amount, leaving open the option of charging them later. But it would have been a huge waste of resources, considering the confusion of current Canadian marijuana rules. Ottawa has to put this matter on the front burner. Police and the public need immediate clarification and controls. If the downtown party had involved beer instead of reefers, police would have broken it up immediately because we have clear restrictions about places alcohol can be consumed. Similar rules could easily apply for marijuana. Ditto for age restrictions. We do it already for alcohol and tobacco, and defining underage toking would be easy. A big concern is impaired driving. Police can already administer roadside physical tests of co-ordination to gauge impairment, but that leaves a lot to subjective opinion. If sufficient studies don’t already show how much marijuana intoxication affects drivers’ reflexes and judgment, they have to be commissioned immediately. We also need a simple roadside THC test that mirrors the breathalyser. Of course, all bans on smoking in public buildings should apply to marijuana as they do tobacco. Many Canadians who support more liberal pot laws have no desire to smoke it themselves — not even second-hand. Proposed decriminalization legislation tries to battle one of the worst marijuana problems, trafficking and its link to other drugs and organized crime, by imposing stiffer penalties. A method that would probably do the job better — and certainly at less net cost to the taxpayer — would be to put production and distribution under government control. Marijuana could be sold in LCBO stores or their equivalent, with identical restrictions on underage procurement. Moonshine is a health hazard in addition to being illegal, and marijuana bought on the street could similarly contain poisons or more-worrisome psychoactive substances. Government control would reduce health and safety concerns. The huge profits that are now going to drug czars would become government revenues. We would pummel a social scourge and feed the public treasury: there would be enough to police drugs, and undoubtedly a lot left over. Source: Sault Star, The (CN ON)Published: Saturday, June 21, 2003 Copyright: 2003 The Sault StarContact: Ssmstar ssm.southam.caWebsite: http://www.saultstar.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmToronto Police Ignore Pot Party in Front of HQhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16653.shtmlJudge Allows Marijuana Ruling To Stand http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16592.shtmlNo Laws Ban Possession of Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16321.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #6 posted by afterburner on June 21, 2003 at 09:31:42 PT: From the Snipped Portion of comment #3's link Southin also said she found it "curious that no attack has been made on the inclusion of 'cannabis' in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act...on the footing that the matter is beyond the reach of Parliament.I'm sure John Conroy and David Malmo-Levine will be happy to hear about this opinion of the Honourable Judge. I don't yet understand what she's suggesting, but I'm sure her reasoned Judge-ment is worth pursuing.ego transcendence follows ego destruction, the courts rule! [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on June 21, 2003 at 09:21:02 PT afterburner You all weren't idiotic. You stood up for us all!!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by afterburner on June 21, 2003 at 09:17:50 PT: Now the Real Debate Begins! Thursday’s idiotic marijuana-smoking party outside Toronto police headquarters... idiotic? Yeah, crazy, like a fox.demonstrated more than the foolishness of some individuals — it pointed clearly to the need for government to do more than just decriminalize. That's what we're telling you. Decriminalization is a smoke screen for a renewed failed policy of tough war on cannabis. By the way, what is so foolish about smoking a legal herb, cannabis, freed of its chains by the Ontario Superior Court?As with many other substances, marijuana is going to have to be regulated and controlled. If legislators are particularly smart, they’ll go one better — sell and tax pot, and use the proceeds to fund increased costs of regulation. "sell and tax" is a good idea if you also allow personal cultivation, as with personal wine-making or beer-making. If you do the math, you will find out that selling and taxing cannabis is a Win-Win suitation for the government and for the partakers. The cost of policing and court actions avoided would when added to the potential taxes more than pay for any admistration costs. The black market will dry up, the price will fall, and the quality of the product can be guaranteed.A big concern is impaired driving. Hey, human, I took the subway and the bus. Toke responsibly!Marijuana could be sold in LCBO stores or their equivalent, with identical restrictions on underage procurement. Exactement! Safe Access Now!ego transcendence follows ego destruction, you are backing away from the punitive approach and you are open to new possibilities, that's a good thing. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on June 21, 2003 at 09:15:46 PT Check This One Too The GCW Here comes the Judge! http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread16670.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Robbie on June 21, 2003 at 09:14:21 PT Not so subtle bite-back by the prohibs This person seems to take legalization as a personal insult!**If sufficient studies don’t already show how much marijuana intoxication affects drivers’ reflexes and judgment, they have to be commissioned immediately. **Sounds like Nixon "commissioning" his pot report, but only if it concluded that pot was bad.No taxing weed. Taxes are levied because of the problems generated by use of a drug...SHOW ME THE PROBLEMS! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by The GCW on June 21, 2003 at 09:12:51 PT BINGO = BULLS-EYE = The Truth How about a big hand for The Sault Star.Sock it to Me Sock it to Me Sock it to Me Sock it to Me Sock it to Me [ Post Comment ] Post Comment