cannabisnews.com: Possession Isn't Criminal





Possession Isn't Criminal
Posted by FoM on May 23, 2000 at 07:13:44 PT
Editorial
Source: Montreal Gazette
Six hundred thousand Canadians have a criminal record because they were convicted of simple possession of marijuana. For having quantities that amounted to half a joint or a few seeds, thousands of people have had their lives and careers harmed. 
Forced to admit on job applications that they have a criminal record, unable to travel freely to the United States, it must feel unfair to hear their political leaders admit that not only did they smoke marijuana in their youth, they did it more than once. Ralph Klein, premier of Alberta, was one. Others included federal NDP leader Alexa McDonough and Newfoundland Premier Brian Tobin. Canada should decriminalize simple possession of marijuana and simply fine those who are apprehended with it. Canadians continue to be caught up in the web of the criminal-justice system - in 1998, 19,200 adults and young people were charged with possession - to no useful purpose. An astonishing 70 per cent of drug-related charges in 1997 involved marijuana. About 2,000 Canadians went to jail on simple possession charges that year. With political leaders admitting openly to previous marijuana use, it is hypocritical to pretend that the country is trying to save its youth from the ravages of inevitable drug addiction. U.S. statistics published in 1997 show that for every 100 people who use marijuana, 28 go on to try cocaine; 12 use cocaine a dozen times or more; only one keeps using it weekly. Alcohol is still the drug that serves as a gateway to all drugs. Drug addiction is a serious social and medical problem, but it is not likely to be solved by continuing to criminalize marijuana possession. When it comes to marijuana, Canada has followed the example set by the United States for too long. The United States launched its policy of zero tolerance in 1988, promising no mercy. Within 18 months, it was backtracking into a relatively lenient approach in which people were cited and released without their property confiscated. Forfeiture laws, which allow the state to seize property, are now applied mostly against large-scale drug dealers and money launderers. The energy that is wasted on people carrying half a joint would be better spent on combating the propagation of HIV among intravenous drug users. The rate of new infections among IV drug users is 10 per cent in Vancouver, the highest rate in the Western world. In 1998, there were 371 drug-related deaths in British Columbia. We do need to take drugs seriously, of course. While simple possession should be decriminalized, trafficking in pot still deserves stiff criminal penalties. Marijuana, which has become far more potent in recent years, should not become a legal product. If it were, governments would inevitably tax the product heavily, and criminal elements would continue a contraband trade. Marijuana should be made available, on the other hand, to people suffering illnesses such as multiple sclerosis whose symptoms are relieved by the drug. It should be a relatively straightforward process to control who has access to marijuana. The great majority of Canadians would like to see marijuana made available to cancer patients to help control pain. Public support for the decriminalization of marijuana has never been higher in Canada. Countries such as Great Britain, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands have all provided more humane and safer frameworks in which to deal with drug use. It's time to try something new. Published: Tuesday 23 May 2000© 2000 Montreal GazetteRelated Article:Two-Thirds Favour Decriminalizing Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread5738.shtmlCannabis & Drug Policy Information:http://cannabisnews.com/information/CannabisNews View Next 20 Articles:http://cannabisnews.com/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/cnews/newsread.pl
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Comment #2 posted by CD1 on May 25, 2000 at 15:10:52 PT
Potency
I have to laugh when I hear that marijuana is more potent now than in the past, (despite the fact that government test say that today's pot contains roughly 3.2% THC, as opposed to 3.1% in the late 70s). This is the baby boomers' (such as Al Gore and G.W. Bush) way of justifying their use of the drug, while throwing your butt in jail. My argument is "SO WHAT?" There still is no proof that marijuana is harmful, no matter the potency. So you get more stoned. It STILL does not cause permament brain damage or serve as a "Gateway" to harder drugs. (U.S. Govt DEA Sponsored studies says so.) Pot Smokers are probably the only group in the U.S. that is begging to be taxed. Unfortunately, drug companies and the DEA would lose a lot money, if marijuana is legalized, so they are lobbying hard to keep it illegal. 
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Comment #1 posted by steve1 on May 23, 2000 at 18:44:14 PT
no fines please
Just tolerate the marijuana, if you need the fine money sin tax the stuff. What's so hard? There is a market for this product. Where the hell are all the businessmen? They're hiding! Why! Because it's illegal! One handshake can change this hell, legalize and sin tax the stuff. I can't stand this "more potent" bulls*it! So it's more potent, good, smoke less you fools. Sell the seeds! Sell by the gram! Sell the culture! Sell the cash crop! Generate billions of tax dollars for out schools! Don't waste money enforcing laws that cannot be enforced! Have common sense! Stop the madness!
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