With more indications Canada will ease marijuana laws, U.S. anti-drug lobby worries

Associated Press

[RCW2001]

TOM COHEN, Associated Press Writer
Thursday, December 12, 2002
©2002 Associated Press

URL: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2002/12/12/international1520EST0678.DTL

(12-12) 12:20 PST TORONTO (AP) --

Getting caught with an ounce or less of marijuana in Canada should bring fines, not prison time and a criminal record, a parliamentary committee said Thursday.

The committee was the second in Parliament that has called for Canada to ease its marijuana laws -- despite protests from the United States.

Canada's Supreme Court is also preparing to hear a constitutional challenge to laws that make it illegal to possess pot, and Justice Minister Martin Cauchon said this week that legislation to decriminalize marijuana could be introduced early in 2003.

The report by a House of Commons committee on drugs said too many young Canadians get a criminal record for the relatively minor offense of smoking pot.

Rather than legalizing marijuana, as recommended by a Senate committee earlier this year, the House panel proposed a fine or other sanction instead of the maximum six-month jail term for possession.

The report also differed from the Senate committee by not calling for an amnesty for the estimated 600,000 Canadians with a criminal record for possession of cannabis.

It proposes government education and prevention programs for young people, naming a drug commissioner to report on national drug strategy, and more money each year for the Canadian Center on Substance Abuse.

American officials oppose the push toward greater leniency.

Liberalizing laws will boost drug use and bring more pot into the United States, said John Walters, director of the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Canada is already a major source of marijuana for the United States, with an estimated $2.5 billion worth smuggled in each year, Walters said Thursday.

While he didn't think the new laws would "destroy" relations between the historically friendly neighbors, Walters said the United States would be forced to combat the increased flow of drugs.

"My theory is it's going to cause unnecessary harm to our citizens and our children on both sides of our borders," he said.

The Canadian Supreme Court will hear a constitutional challenge to marijuana laws on Friday. The basic argument is that people should not be imprisoned for something that isn't harmful.

Walters said it's a myth that marijuana isn't harmful, saying 60 percent of drug-dependent Americans are hooked on it.

"For people who try to tell Americans marijuana is not something we have to pay attention to -- it's a lie," he said.

The issue joins a growing list of differences between the North American neighbors that share the world's largest trade partnership, worth more than $1 billion a day.

Despite their military ties and common democratic values, Canada has traditionally adopted more liberal social policies, in part to distinguish itself from its neighbor. Examples include diplomatic ties with Cuba, a ban on capital punishment and more lenient immigration policies.

Last year, Canada implemented a medical marijuana program that allows some patients to possess and grow pot.

Eight U.S. states have taken some kind of step toward permitting the medicinal use of marijuana. The U.S. Supreme Court, however, has ruled there is no exception in federal law for people to use marijuana, so even those with tolerant state laws could face arrest if they do.

---

On the Net:

Canadian site advocating marijuana culture:

www.cannabisculture.com

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration at www.usdoj.gov/dea/

[Dimensio]

I can imagine the US's concern. If Canada decriminalizes marijuana, the US will face the likelyhood that people will see what an utter crock the DEA's anti-drug propaganda really is.

[HELLRAISER II]

You mean the Government would lie to us, Lord forbid.

[ClearCase_guy]

Walters said it's a myth that marijuana isn't harmful, saying 60 percent of drug-dependent Americans are hooked on it.

That's sloppy thinking. Being "hooked" is not the same as being "harmed".

Also, coming up with a statistic for being "hooked", and limiting your statistical sample to drug-dependent Americans, is likely to find a large percentage of people who are "hooked". Sheesh!

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

...it's a myth that marijuana isn't harmful...

That's right. Inhaling the smoke of a burning roadside weed can get your door beaten down and you shot dead in front of your family.

Worse yet, living next door to someone who inhales the smoke of a roadside weed can also get your door beaten down in the night and get you shot dead in front of your family.

[mg39]

What Walters should have said is that a few fanatics are hooked on the WoD.

[Dimensio]

Having an address that is similar (as in, has all of the same numbers or is spelled similarly or appears before or after it in some list) to that of a person who inhales the smoke of a roadside weed can result in your door being beaten down and you (or your dog, or both) being shot.

Marijuana is deadly.

[RonF]

American officials oppose the push toward greater leniency.

Thus guaranteeing that Canada will, in fact, become more lenient.

[HamiltonJay]

Hahah why worry? Let em legalize, and then all the pot smokers who visit because its legal will realize they can get a free ride up there on Canada's social system and stay there indefinately... Ah, that great sucking sound to the north... let em have em.

[zarf]

At least our wimpy neighbors from the Great White are getting something right.

[Imal]

Strange, I don't see any Drug Warriors chiming in. They must be out having a few drinks or something.

God forbid the truth about the Drug War should ever get into the wrong hands!

[George W. Bush]

You can grow it in your closet without paying a tax on it

Sure but everyone knows if you grow it indoors. No fan system really hides that strong odor completely even from the inlaws/neighbors/friends, let alone fooling any drugsniffing dog.

This is rather interesting when one ties it to what has happened to the grey-market Canadian satellite TV market who have made a lot of money in pirating U.S. satellite equipment and signals.

We're seeing essentially the extension of American sovereignty to our neighbors to the north. I wonder if they'll eventually discover some small bit of courage to stand up to us and tell us to mind our own business.

Just from marijuana and satellite exports, they're in the process of giving up $5-$10 billion (American) a year to appease Uncle Sam. I don't see what their ruling class hopes to achieve from lowering cash flow into their country or why they should agree to impoverish their own grey industries to make our ruling elite happy. It's strange economic behavior, even by the low standards of the Canadian socialist elite.

[smpc]

Marijuana has been decriminalized in a few Australian states......i thought a few states in the US had already done it too.

[headsonpikes]

A good contrast in the links you provided!

Canada's as complex a country as our good neighbour to the south, the Excited States of America.

It's shaping up to be a Canadian compromise...it'll still be against the law, but no one will be arrested.

It works for me. ;^)

[Ol' Sparky]

Or Canada will see a dramatic increase in drug use and crime as the Netherlands did when it decriminalized marijuana and lessen other drug laws.

Here's hoping libertarian druggies move north of the border.

[MonroeDNA]

Ann Arbor, Michigan, decriminilized pot in the 70's. First in the country, I believe. Don't know if it changed since then.

At the time, you could carry up to an ounce of weed, and if caught, it was confiscated, and a $5 citation issued.

Been there; done that. Now I make artificial heart-pumps for a living. And don't do any drugs. But I know several pot heads who are at the tops of thier profession, doing a great job, making artificial heart-pumps. None of them drink and drive, or do narcotics.

Reefer Madness. Go Canada!