cannabisnews.com: Governments Caught Coming And Going On MJ Issue Governments Caught Coming And Going On MJ Issue Posted by FoM on October 09, 1999 at 16:51:03 PT Editorial is from the Montreal Gazette Source: Calgary Herald This week, Health Minister Alan Rock announced that another 14 Canadians will be allowed to consume marijuana for therapeutic purposes, while the government will spend several million dollars to fund clinical trials on the therapeutic value of smoking pot. At the same time, Bloc Quebecois MP Yvan Loubier called for a crackdown on Quebec marijuana growers. In Toronto, the federal government was in court, arguing against the use of marijuana as medicine. In Quebec, a driver successfully argued that she was under the influence of marijuana when she drove the wrong way on a Quebec highway, causing a car crash in which two people were seriously injured. Is marijuana dangerous? Or useful? What is a government supposed to do if it is both? There is no consensus on whether marijuana has legitimate medical uses. Researchers in a two-year study done by 11 independent experts at the U.S. Institute of Medicine disagreed with the position, traditionally held by Canadian and United States governments, that marijuana was the gateway to the use of harder drugs. Yet as Loubier pointed out, organized crime, in Quebec at least, has moved into the illicit marijuana market. If marijuana isn't the gateway to the use of harder drugs, it seems to be the open door through which organized crime plans to muscle its way to a profitable market. Loubier says that he and his family have been threatened by organized crime over his stance. He paints a frightening picture of armed criminals invading Quebec's family farms where, uninvited, they are growing potent marijuana plants and intimidating farmers to keep silent. Colombia, home of the drug cartels, started off this way: illegal plantations, threats against politicians and judges who dared to speak out. Law-enforcement authorities should slam the door as fast as they can on this kind of activity. At the same time, the government will have to draft legislation that allows it to legitimize marijuana use for therapeutic purposes, while keeping it illegal in all other circumstances.Saturday 9 October 1999Copyright © 1999 Calgary Herald New Media Pot Laws Unfair To Sick, Court Told - 10/09/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3219.shtml END SNIP --> Snipped Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by bootdoom on September 03, 2001 at 10:14:15 PT: what is your problem?? 1. if it was legal and you could grow for your own use there would be nobody stealing from farmsbecause they would already have there own marijuana that they grew so no need to worry bout that.. 2. beer causes more death than any drug ever! 3.you can smoke a way harshermore dangerous chemically treated tobacco plant but not marijuana which grows straight from the ground????come on! 4. who died and made you God? [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Mike wall on August 08, 2001 at 10:21:43 PT Marijuana use and "Crackdown" in Quebec Quebec is a liberal province known for its european world view, this type of garbage taints that, and paves the way for a future along the lines of the opressive USA government. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: