Posted on 11/15/2004 6:54:57 AM PST by MikeEdwards
On most issues affecting the U.S. and Canada, Paul Cellucci is a model of common sense. Despite our differences over things like same-sex marriage and lumber, he says, what sets us apart is only that "Canada is a little more liberal than the United States; the United States is a little more conservative."
But turn to the subject of marijuana, and the outgoing U.S. ambassador loses his logical composure. He also comes perilously close to interfering in the way we conduct our domestic affairs.
"Why, when we're trying to take pressure off the border, would Canada pass a law that would put pressure on the border?" Cellucci asked last week.
Translation: If we persist in making possession of a minuscule amount of pot no longer a crime, Canadian tourists and exporters are going to face even longer delays at the border.
The ambassador predicts U.S. border authorities will be stopping more vehicles, especially if they're being driven by young people — young people, apparently, are automatically suspected of drug-smuggling.
His excellency points out that U.S. customs, immigration and security officials already have their hands full at border crossings trying to keep prospective terrorists out.
In that case, why would they divert all this extra attention suddenly to the already thriving cross-border trade in marijuana?
Just because Parliament has decided treating kids like criminals for passing around a joint at a party doesn't really do much to stop drug trafficking either here or in the U.S.
There's an element of kettle as well as pot to all of this. About a dozen U.S. states, including California and New York, have removed criminal sanctions from marijuana possession and there's little evidence of border slowdowns between those that have and those that haven't.
Under our proposed law, criminal sanctions would still apply for anyone caught with more than 15 grams of pot. In most U.S. states that have adopted some measure of decriminalization, people are still be able to get off with fines for having up to 28.35 grams.
Besides New York and Ohio, other states bordering Canada that have eased pot laws more than we're about to do include Minnesota, Maine and Alaska where the lowest penalties are imposed for possession of up to 226 grams. It's a wonder we haven't put delays on Americans at our borders to keep the potheads out — but, of course, we don't have the resources.
In the land of the free, U.S. presidents can't bully the states into their own conservative agendas.
That's what makes the attempts of a U.S. ambassador to bully a bordering nation out of its more liberal policies so much more outrageous.
Kindly butt out, Mr. Ambassador.
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This is an edited excerpt of an editorial from the Times Colonist, Victoria, B.C.
Translation:
"Anyone who disagrees with Canadians is illogical."
LOL!
Look around you, Canucks: You're well on your way to becoming a Third World nation!
If you've ever had to live next to a pothead, all the cute Cheech and Chong stereotypes go right out the window. Mucho pot use makes people paranoid and yes, does give a guy boobies.
and yet the vast majority of Canadians are so brainwashed by leftism that they don't notice it. Our streets are filled with druggies, homeless people, and garbage. But as long as we aren't in any way like the "Big bad Americans" then all is fine and dandy. Canadians are so brainwashed that they think our Healthcare is actually better than the United State's healthcare system. But the fact of the matter is, our healthcare, free though it may be to all Canadians, for want of a better word, SUCKS.
Canada's proposed law would still be tougher than here in Ohio.
Not only that, despite claims, by potheads themselves, that it is not addictive, I know several people who have been smoking it since their teens, and cannot stop. They are in their early thirties now, and live the same lifestyle as they did then. They have zero motivatoins, cannot go a few hours without smoking it, are lazy, they get irritable when they don't have it - but no! Marijuana has no long term effects!! At least according to potheads. Doesn't much matter that it burns at a much higher temperature than cigarettes. The bottom line is, most of the potheads I know are boring losers anyway.
Let's be honest, too: Cellucci is an incredible light-weight. When he left the corner office to take this position, he left the unfortunate citizens of the Commonwealth in the unworthy hands of the inept Jane "Sky Pilot" Swift, quite possibly the worst governor we've had here since Thomas Hutchinson.
For example, people are prohibited from taking certain drugs while many children are forced to take Ritalin. Which government will be first to force chip implants in citizens?
What???
Canada's proposed law says pot is LEGAL in Canada (< 15 grams). In Ohio, it's ILLEGAL. You can be fined in Ohio.
As opposed to older people? You betcha.
Your argument is fool of flaws. Is a waste of money to those who dont believe in it, people who smoke pot are sick and need to be punished.
There's a major difference between our decriminalization and Canada's legalization.
How did these guys ever get to be Editors of the Toronto Star -- isn't intelligence a requirement?
does your mommy know your playing on the computor?
It isn't being legalized, merely decriminalized. Possession will still be illegal, but if it's less than 15g there will be no jail time or criminal record.
IMO this proposal is the worst of all possible worlds. Outright legalization would be a devastating blow to organized crime and deprive terrorist groups of a lucrative source of income. This solution merely reduces the consequences of pot use without changing its status, which means the market for criminals will expand.
I believe you left out, "... if they choose to remain in public school". This is state law, not federal. Take your bitchin' to your Governor.
The House passed the Child Medication Safety Act 425-1, preventing school personnel from forcing children to take mind altering medication.
Of course, now your argument is that the federal government has no right to interfere with the states and tell them what they can and cannot do, right?
The proposed Canadian law includes fines of $100 to $500 for possessing up to 15 grams. Here in Ohio, its $100 for up to 300 grams.
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