cannabisnews.com: Cannabis Use No Longer Illegal Cannabis Use No Longer Illegal Posted by FoM on January 19, 2001 at 13:38:54 PT By Bart Dobbelaere Source: De Standaard Belgium: Soon, use of 'soft' drugs will no longer be illegal. To this aim, the 1921 law will be adjusted and there will also be a royal decree. This means more legal security for occasional users of cannabis. But where they get their stuff, they will have to find out for themselves.The core cabinet has resolved the drugs issue yesterday with an honorable compromise. Use of cannabis will not be removed from the penal code, as the Greens and the PS wanted initially. The user gets more legal security than is the case now, with the circular letter. In the drugs law of 1921 a provision is written that allows a separate approach to soft- and hard drugs, and to problematic and non-problematic use. Wat this other approach exactly entails, will be regulated with a royal decree and a circular letter.Someone who smokes cannabis will at least no longer receive a booking.Using cannabis is allowed, as long as there is no social nuisance or problematic use. Driving under the influence is not allowed; and who is seriously addicted will be guided into drug aid.The government has not chosen to determine the amount of grams of cannabis allowed. In this way, the discussion about 5 grams as in the VLD-version versus 15 grams as in the Agalev-version was neatly avoided.No problem, says Department of Health Minster Magda Aelvoet. The police services have sufficient experience to know from how many grams use of soft drugs becomes problematic. But, she admitted, there will always be room for interpretation for police services. Problematic use may mean something different in the city of Brussels than in Betekom-village, just like nuisance means something else in both municipalities.About growth and sale the drugs compromise says nothing. Positions were too far apart for that. Who wants to smoke a joint, will have to grow themselves or make a trip to the Netherlands.In the case of hard drugs there no longer is an abbreviated booking in the case of use, a left-over from the original drugs proposal. There will always be a booking. But the ways in which the office of the prosecutor deals with the booking will be extended. In this, it will always be the intention to keep drug users out of prison and guide them to drug aid.The drugs proposal gives a lot of attention to aid and prevention. Half a billion franks will be spent additionally for it as well.VU thinks the proposal is a half-hearted compromise.Senators Patrick Van Krunkelsven and Vincent Van Quickenborne (VU&ID) think the government's compromise on use of cannabis is half-hearted. It still contains unclarities. "Growing is not allowed, so where will you get the stuff. Supply from the Netherlands is cumbersome and illegal, since importation of cannabis remains an offense." Moreover, the prosecutors continue to judge who is a problematic user. This leaves room for interpretation, according to the VU&ID-senators, who stick to their proposal: a maximum of 15 grams in your pocket, no booking or seizure below that limit, and as much transferral to drug aid as possible. Note: Who wants a joint, should grow or go to the Netherlands.Source: De Standaard (B)Copyright: 2001 De StandaardAuthor: Bart DobbelaerePublished: January 19, 2001Translation: Harry BegoWebsite: http://www.standaard.be/Contact: standaard vum.beRelated Article:Belgium Agrees To Legalize Cannabishttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8378.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #5 posted by meagain on January 20, 2001 at 05:01:40 PT OOOOOOOHweeeeee is that your hat?? Way ta go Texas [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by eco2man on January 20, 2001 at 01:54:56 PT Greens, Harm Reduction, cannabis. A European way. *POWER LINKS. INTERNATIONAL. Saner Cannabis and Drug Policies worldwide. Older compilation of many world press articles. Many with Green Party info. In chronological order. [Click table of contents (TOC) names, not the TOC URLs.]http://homepages.go.com/homepages/m/a/r/marthag1/power_links.htm and go to the "research" section at:http://www.cannabis.com/linkscgi/#research*Greens and the Drug War. Worldwide. LINKS. Green Party candidates, positions, platforms, etc.. Concerning the Drug War, cannabis, marijuana, harm reduction, etc.. Ralph Nader info, links.http://www.angelfire.com/rnb/y/greens.htm and http://members.fortunecity.com/multi19/greens.htm and *9-00. MAP/DrugNews SEARCH SHORTCUT for many press articles about RALPH NADER's September 8, 2000 press conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico where he called for legalizing cannabis/marijuana, and for harm reduction drug reform. Ralph Nader "called for the legalization of marijuana as part of an overhaul of the nation's 'self-defeating and antiquated drug laws.' ... Legalizing marijuana, Nader said, would allow the government to regulate and potentially tax its use like tobacco products." -Albuquerque Journal, September 8, 2000.http://www.mapinc.org/find?BK=nader+johnson+santa&YY1=1997 [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Dan B on January 19, 2001 at 20:54:46 PT: Texas Will Legislate on Medical Marijuana! This just in from the Marijuana Policy Project: The Texas Legislature will decide on an exemption for medical marijuana! Here is the wording of the Bill, followed by a little commentary from me:By Keel77R3014 YDB-DH.B. No. 513A BILL TO BE ENACTEDAN ACTrelating to the medical use of marijuana. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 481.121, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: (c) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that the person possessed marijuana as a patient of a licensed physician and pursuant to the recommendation of that physician for the amelioration of a bona fide medical condition. SECTION 2. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 2001. (b) The change in law made by Section 1 of this Act applies only to an offense committed on or after September 1, 2001. For the purposes of this section, an offense occurs before that date. (c) An offense committed before September 1, 2001, is covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.My Commentary:First, let me say that when I read this, I ran into the other room to tell my wife. I am amazed that the subject was even under consideration in Texas (where I live). I sent a couple of letters to my state representatives on this subject today (one about supporting federal relaxation of marijuana use for medical purposes, the other was just now, specifically about this bill). If you live in Texas, I urge you to support H.B. 513 by sending letters to your representatives and encouraging them to support this legislation. Although flawed, I think this bill is extremely important for the state of Texas and the country in general. If Texas passes this, I believe it will become the most conservative state in the country yet to do so. And that bodes well for the rest of the country.I do disagree with some aspects of this bill, specifically that it would allow prosecution of genuinely ill people who could be shown to have used marijuana before before September 2001 (rather arbitrary, don't you think? And petty. Why hold a person in jail for doing something that is no longer a criminal offense?But it is a major step in the right direction, and for that reason alone I support it. I am encouraged by the fact that everyone I have talked to about this issue seems to agree that prosecution of the sick and dying is never defensible. In fact, almost all agree that marijuana should be legalized outright. It is a flawed Act, but an important one. Let's see if we can get it passed. Dan B [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by freedom fighter on January 19, 2001 at 17:22:18 PT More news from those who hate changes LAW & ORDER - Christian Democrats criticise government's 'cannabis tolerance'BRUSSELS - The Flemish opposition Christian Democrats party (CVP) is sharply critical of the government's decision to no longer make the use of cannabis punishable by law. According to the CVP, cigarette smoking is discouraged, but the same is not done for cannabis. Yesterday, the inner cabinet agreed that the use of cannabis will no longer be an offence, though the sale of cannabis will still be against the law. The government has not yet agreed on how much cannabis users may have in their personal possession.The CVP says that soft drugs can be very dangerous, especially for youngsters. The party is certain that the new policy will signal an increase in the supply of cannabis, and this will lead to a greater risk of addiction. http://www.xpats.com/customer-cgi/News/NewsDisplay1.pl?belg#4744Hi Ex-pat, how is the Spain?? \/ to you [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Ex-pat on January 19, 2001 at 13:54:10 PT Better than Kalifornia In spite of the shortcomings, this is still better than Kalifornia, where the prison-industrial complex killed Peter McWilliams and Todd McCormack is left to rot and die in spite of laws saying they can use pot. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: