cannabisnews.com: Minister Quite Open To Marijuana Debate Minister Quite Open To Marijuana Debate Posted by FoM on May 19, 2001 at 07:17:28 PT By Mark MacKinnon Source: Globe and Mail Justice Minister Anne McLellan said yesterday she is "quite open" to a debate on whether marijuana should be legalized, or at least decriminalized, in Canada. Speaking one day after MPs in her own party and others said they wanted to begin such a discussion, Ms. McLellan said it is "absolutely" time for Ottawa to consider whether some illegal "soft" drugs should continue to be banned.Her comments pushed the government closer than it has ever been to loosening the rules around possessing and using marijuana. On Thursday, the House of Commons passed a unanimous motion to create a committee to examine the issue of non-medical drugs in Canada. Members of all five parties said they see the committee as a chance to raise the marijuana issue.The decision moved the debate into the spotlight yesterday; both the chairman of the Canadian Alliance's antidrug caucus and advocates of legalizing marijuana promoted the idea."I think both my colleagues, the minister of health and I look forward to this discussion and what the committee hears from Canadians and any recommendations they may make," Ms. McLellan said in a brief interview. "We are quite open to that."She noted that the Senate, led by Conservative Senator Pierre Claude Nolin, has been examining the issue for some time, and said she had "encouraged" him in his work. However, Ms. McLellan also said it's clear Canadians are divided on the idea of becoming the second Western country after the Netherlands to decriminalize marijuana."I think it's something we need to talk to Canadians about because I think they're deeply conflicted."Farah Mohamed, the minister's spokeswoman, said later the government feels it should take its time on this issue. The social implications need to be studied before any decision is made, she said."The issue of decriminalizing marijuana is a very complex one . . . even within the police there isn't clear agreement on this."She said the government has no plans to change the law before hearing from the committee, which will have 18 months to examine the issue after it is constituted.Yesterday, a multiparty consensus that the issue can no longer be avoided seemed to be developing.Canadian Alliance caucus chairman Randy White, normally a staunch antidrug crusader, said even his party is willing to look at legalization or decriminalization."There are lots of people across this country who want to talk about it, and I'm certainly open to listening," he said.Mr. White, however, said starting a marijuana debate was not his intention when he introduced the motion calling for the creation of the special committee on drugs. He said he hopes the bulk of the committee's time will be spent examining ways to cut into the criminal drug trade, in which marijuana plays a large role. "There are over a thousand people a year dying in Canada from drug-related causes," he said. "That should be the committee's focus."Marijuana advocates were already claiming victory yesterday. "The House committee is very encouraging," Marc Emery, president of the British Columbia's Marijuana Party, said. "The only reason we ran [in this week's B.C. election] was to get people to take notice of the issue."Two years ago, Health Canada legalized the use and possession of marijuana for medicinal purposes after a court found the drug useful in easing the pain of terminally ill patients.Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)Author: Mark MacKinnonPublished: Saturday, May 19, 2001Copyright: 2001 The Globe and Mail CompanyContact: letters globeandmail.caWebsite: http://www.globeandmail.ca/Related Articles & Web Sites:Health Canadahttp://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/Canadian Medical Associationhttp://www.cma.ca/MPs Set To Debate Legalizing Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9778.shtmlMedical Journal: Decriminalize Marijuana Usehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9729.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #6 posted by Binky on May 21, 2001 at 16:27:01 PT: Answers Yes McLellan is handling the Boje matter, and I don't think it will help her because she is American and her crime commited in US.It would be great for our Miniser to say stay in Can because we don't have that law anymore, but I believe the Minister will finally conclude that her life was in no danger and ship her back to the US.I only wish the best for Rene. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by ekomstop on May 20, 2001 at 14:08:49 PT anne last i read about McLellan she was against marijuana and wanted to do alot more to enforce it. what made her change her mind? in my opinion shes still a bitch. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by canadian on May 20, 2001 at 10:54:16 PT canada rules Anywhere in Canada rules to live man! [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by jeezlouis on May 19, 2001 at 17:20:03 PT What the friggin hell? when did canada become so cool as to even think about decriminalizing marijuana? what happend to america being #1? what the bloody hell is going on here? ahhhhh! i cant take it anymore!! where is a good place to live in canada? [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Symmetric on May 19, 2001 at 11:05:03 PT: renee kaptinemo,the sticky thing with renee bojee are the laws she broke while she was in the united states, not the laws she is probably breaking here in canada.If the US changed its law that would be another thing, but for right or wrong it seems any use of pot there will remain illegal for a long, long time. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by kaptinemo on May 19, 2001 at 10:15:13 PT: An interesting point Hey, you Canucks! Could you answer some questions, please?Isn't Justice Minister Anne McLellan the lady who was in charge of the Rene Boje extradition case?And what effect do you think this might have on her case? Namely, if you do go decrim Up There, then clearly there is no point in extraditing her to the US when her 'crime' won't exist in Canada, right? In an aside, I believe that this latest bit of news is directly related to the US being booted off the UN Narcotics Control Board. Now that Big Brother has to ask 'pretty please' instead of leaning on other nations, those other members are going to start finding home-made solutions instead of using the American one-size-fits-all-and-you-damn-well-better-wear-it-or-we'll-beat-you-up philosophy. I expect even more nations to start thumbing their noses - or making other, ruder, but no less deserved - gestures at Washington before long.Oh, the times, they are a-changin' [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: