cannabisnews.com: MPs Set To Debate Legalizing Marijuana MPs Set To Debate Legalizing Marijuana Posted by FoM on May 18, 2001 at 10:04:26 PT By Mark MacKinnon Source: Globe and Mail MPs quietly launched a debate yesterday that could lead to the decriminalization of currently illegal drugs such as marijuana. All five parties in the House of Commons unanimously backed a motion to create a committee with a broad-ranging mandate to study solutions to the use of banned narcotics.Members from at least three parties said yesterday that they see the committee as a forum to discuss the once-taboo topic of legalizing marijuana. Toronto-area Liberal MP Derek Lee said that it's time to disregard convention and seriously look at the issue of whether using "recreational" drugs should be a criminal act."It's clear that all members in the House want to tackle this issue," he said."It's time to be bold."He said other MPs in the Liberal caucus support the idea of debating the subject.New Democratic Party MP Dick Proctor said his party will definitely raise the topic of legalizing marijuana -- and potentially other "soft" drugs -- at the committee."We intend to have a pretty wide open discussion on how to proceed," he said. "Everything has to be on the table, including the possibility of decriminalizing recreational drugs like marijuana for personal use."The Bloc Québécois, in its election platform, also promotes legalization.A spokesman said yesterday that the party voted in favour of the motion because it plans to push the issue at the committee. The committee was struck one day after the Canadian Medical Association published an editorial urging the government to modernize its Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and decriminalize marijuana.The motion was proposed by Canadian Alliance MP Randy White, a rabid antidrug crusader who favours stricter, not softer, laws. The intent was to create a committee that would examine ways for Canada to fight organized drug rings.Yesterday, newly appointed Alliance spokesman Dan Robertson said the broadly worded motion was being misinterpreted by those wishing to talk about legalizing marijuana. "We're a grassroots party, but not in that respect," he said.The wording of the motion, however, calls for the committee to study "the factors underlying or relating to the non-medical use of drugs in Canada." MPs from all sides of the House agreed those words can be interpreted many ways.The all-party special committee will have 18 months to study the issue before reporting back to the Commons.Mr. Lee said yesterday that he expects 75 per cent of the committee's time and energy to be devoted to the question of how to crack down on the criminal drug trade.He said that he is concerned about the spread of drugs that are both addictive and controlled by organized crime. Marijuana doesn't fit those two categories, Mr. Lee said."While I consider the marijuana trade to be run by organized crime, I don't consider it to be in the addictive category."Marijuana advocates have long argued that it is not addictive and has no long-term health effects. In its editorial, the Canadian Medical Association said studies show "minimal negative health effects with moderate use" of the drug.Two years ago, Health Canada decriminalized the use and possession of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Possession for non-medicinal purposes remains a crime that carries a possible five-year jail sentence with a conviction.The CMA estimates that 1.5 million Canadians smoke marijuana recreationally.Mr. Lee and Mr. Proctor both said part of the debate should be over whether to legalize, or simply decriminalize, marijuana. Decriminalization would make marijuana possession a civil offence, like a traffic ticket, that would not result in a criminal record.Progressive Conservative Senator Pierre-Claude Nolin has also started a push in the Red Chamber to decriminalize marijuana.The House motion came one day after the single-issue Marijuana Party attracted a surprising 3.4 per cent of the vote, or 54,000 ballots, in the B.C. election.Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)Author: Mark MacKinnonPublished: Friday, May 18, 2001Copyright: 2001 The Globe and Mail CompanyContact: letters globeandmail.caWebsite: http://www.globeandmail.ca/Related Article & Web Sites:Canadian Medical Associationhttp://www.cma.ca/Canadian Medical Association Journalhttp://www.cma.ca/cmaj/Medical Journal: Decriminalize Marijuana Usehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9729.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #11 posted by Eric Hung on June 04, 2001 at 14:37:49 PT: Parties Actually Canada has 5 parties in the house of commons, not 3. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Lehder on May 19, 2001 at 03:27:31 PT Canada, land of government-paid snitches http://www.marijuananews.com/marijuananews/cowan/canadian_hikers_and_pilots_urged.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by shmooo on May 18, 2001 at 17:49:28 PT: freakin a! this really makes me upset...america what the f #$ is your problem?? jesus christ people wake up and smell the weed stop arresting innocent people for smoking a dried plant!!!...i wonder if canada has MTV...hmmmmm [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by MikeEEEEE on May 18, 2001 at 15:00:24 PT Go Go Go Canada This is great news! [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by jAHn on May 18, 2001 at 14:11:54 PT Phew! Alright CANADA!!! I also feel that Canada is going to be the first to cater to the Cannabis/Hemp/Marijuana market. It's about time.It's about time! When every nation is free from Prohibitive laws against Recreational and Unmentionably Sick people, I will continue on with a REAL SMILE. Not these confused, afraid tiny smiles that are filled with more hope than happiness. Please, America...Legalize this Cannabis/Hemp Plant.P L E A S E National Organization (really!) Reforming Marijuana Laws. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by hempcanadian on May 18, 2001 at 13:29:56 PT: O' CANADA FoM I heard you singing!Keep your day job haha!!I'm hoping the Ontario courtend of July will strike down thepot laws for good!That would make it easy for our egg faced friends( politicians and police etc)Save us alot of time and money!Marc ST.Boris is right!We should call for an immediate moratorium(sp)?Stop arresting sick people and rec users!As MOSES said:Let my people go!Gotta go speak to a burning bush!!C'ya herbman The Hemp Canadian [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Dan B on May 18, 2001 at 13:16:38 PT: Thanks, Canada. You've made my day. After making an a$$ of myself in a post for another article, maybe I can make up for it with a hearty and happy reply to this one.Canada, you know I love you. When you talk sweet freedom, you always bend my ear. So, after you legalize cannabis, why don't you snuggle up to ol' Uncle Sam and whisper some love talk in his ear. Something like this:NYA NYA NYA NYA NYAAAAAA NYAAAAAAAA!You go, Canada. Now that the Chiefs of Police, three political parties (now that's strange . . . the American government keeps swearing to us that the only way a democracy can work is if there are only two parties), and the health minister are all on the side of sanity, you're sure to legalize soon. My hat is off to you. I have not been to Canada since age four. I will return.Dan B [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by kaptinemo on May 18, 2001 at 12:18:54 PT: About to be hoist by his own petard "The motion was proposed by Canadian Alliance MP Randy White, a rabid antidrug crusader who favours stricter, not softer, laws. The intent was to create a committee that would examine ways for Canada to fight organized drug rings.Oh, now, this is rich. The anti thinks he can cause the other Parties to come around to his way of thinking. When the other parties have already stated their intents concerning the eventual legalization of cannabis.Ahem! Hellooo, Mr. White! perhaps if you picked that coagulated Drugwarrior propaganda/manure out of your ears and removed those horse's blinders, you'd understand that your day is done. Finished. Kaput. It's a race between Canada and Great Britain as to who decrims first. My money's on the Canucks. If only one thing's driving them, they've had enough of being harrangued about illicit drugs by a govenment South of the border that's run by hypocrites and fanatics who kill children to 'save' them from the scourge of the 'Devil's Weed'.I hope that this panel makes it's deliberations public, or even better, puts them on streaming video. I'd love to watch. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on May 18, 2001 at 11:18:56 PT I Salute You Canada O Canada! Our home and native land!True patriot love in all thy sons command. With glowing hearts we see thee rise,The True North strong and free!From far and wide, O Canada! We stand on guard for thee.CHORUSGod keep our land glorious and free!O Canada! we stand on guard for thee.O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.O Canada! Where pines and maples grow,Great prairies spread and lordly rivers flow,How dear to us thy broad domain,From East to Western sea!Thou land of hope for all who toil!Thou True North strong and free! My Canadian Links [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by dank_the_dog on May 18, 2001 at 11:08:43 PT: america is sitting on a goldmine !!!! maybe we in america should learn a thing or two from canada. i think the trick is to address the issue head on rather than ignoring it or trying to put an end to the so called drug wars. eventually the american government is going to realize what a goldmine they are sitting on. if the government did with marijuana what they have already done with alcohol and tabacco (as in control its distribution and tax the shit out of it)we might be able to finally experience relief in toking up. I will still continue to smoke pot no matter if it is legal or not (hasn't stopped me yet), but it would sure be nice to do it without looking over my shoulder all the time. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by r.earing on May 18, 2001 at 10:53:16 PT: Final 18 months of prohibition! We're on the last leg of the pot prohibition.Who wants a citizenship application kit? Last night our PM was on the Mike Bullard show.He was asked about subsidized medical marijuana ,he replied "Hmmph,Legal." The host was taken aback and he said "oh?" . The PM replied "No,legal." (applause). The health minister ,Alan Rock, on the same show a few months earlier said "I have never used marijuana ... for medicinal purposes."(wink,nudge). The liberal party will be the government for some years to come ,because the wheels have fallen off the only opposition party.Their attitude is certainly pot friendly in public at least.Here's to the end of prohibition! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: