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| Drugs in Canada - Gone To Pot |
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Posted by FoM on August 09, 2001 at 10:21:28 PT From The Economist Print Edition Source: Economist 
Many Canadians have often wondered if the grass is greener south of the border. But now, thanks to new federal rules that came into force on July 30th, it is easier to get the stuff at home: the change allows marijuana to be used for medical purposes. Only those suffering from terminal illnesses, or from diseases such as multiple sclerosis and epilepsy, may apply. But the new rules are a sign of a wider shift in Canadian attitudes to drugs. Other countries, such as the Netherlands, Spain and Italy, have decriminalised possession of marijuana for recreational use. What is unusual about Canada's action is that the government itself is gearing up to supply patients and researchers. Under a federal contract, a private company is growing quality-controlled weed in a disused mineshaft in Manitoba. That is in stark contrast to the United States, where the Supreme Court recently scuppered moves by a dozen states to legalise the medical use of marijuana. Ethan Nadelmann of the Lindesmith Centre, a drug-policy think-tank in New York, argues that Canada is moving away from a hardline American-style “war on drugs” towards European-style “harm reduction”. Vancouver, for example, is debating whether to establish heroin clinics and safe-injection sites. And in practice police in British Columbia are turning a blind eye to possession of small quantities of weed. Not enough, argues Eugene Oscapella of the Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy, a lobby group for reform. Under the new rules, to get marijuana patients will need a declaration from at least one doctor, if not two—and the Canadian Medical Association has expressed strong reservations about the new policy. In opinion polls, around half of those surveyed now support the decriminalisation of marijuana, or minimal fines for its possession. So does Joe Clark, the leader of the Progressive Conservatives. Even Stockwell Day, the Bible-thumping leader of the right-wing Canadian Alliance, has admitted to smoking the drug in his youth. More change may be on the way. Later this year Canada's Supreme Court will consider a challenge to the law banning marijuana. The Senate, the House of Commons and the auditor-general are all studying drug policy. Meanwhile, Canadians keep on puffing; almost two-fifths of those polled in June admitted to having taken marijuana at least once. Note: The pressure for more relaxed marijuana laws is growing. Source: Economist, The (UK) Related Articles & Web Sites: TLC - DPF Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy Canadian Links Acting High Above The Law Politicians Keep Blowing Smoke Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #7 posted by rabblerouser on August 11, 2001 at 05:18:00 PT |
| I feel fine, now [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #6 posted by Dan B on August 10, 2001 at 10:32:37 PT:
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| Not to be contrary, but the US is getting its cut from both ends of the drug business. On one hand, the government is (and has been from the beginning) very much in the business of trafficking in large quantities of drugs they have deemed illegal. On the other, they reap huge profits by forcing decent, hardworking human beings into jail for using or "distributing" these same drugs. Jail--where they work for pennies on the dollar for a variety of companies and corporations, all of which pay the government for this cheap labor. They are also raking in the dough from taxpayers who seems to have no problem supporting the warehousing of literally hundreds of thousands of individuals (remember, this warehousing is supported by tax dollars, and as government gets more people on its payroll to manage this warehousing, it creates more loyal followers who will do anything to keep their jobs--thus garnering additional support). Let's not forget all of the businesses that benefit from hemp being illegal; you know that most politicians are heavily invested in these businesses. Oh, the US is getting its cut . . . and that's why some drugs remains illegal. They'd likely make far less money from the drug business if it were legal, regulated and taxed. This is the only explanation for continued prohibition. They know the truth about drugs, but ignoring the truth has made them rich. Dan B [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #5 posted by Patrick on August 09, 2001 at 13:04:18 PT |
| How does it make me feel? Pretty pissed off. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #4 posted by Whateva u want ittoB on August 09, 2001 at 12:51:24 PT |
| Why is it legal in holland? do u see alot of people stealing an goin crazzy there no the crime is down an so are the werk shoes LOL [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by mista green boi on August 09, 2001 at 12:49:06 PT |
| come i lov weed it gets my high an i cant hurt no one.. the only reasion the usa dont legalize it is that they aint getin there cut like they are on otha things acohal, tobaco.. an meds.. once they figure a way to tax it it will be ok an in our pockets... [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by r.earing on August 09, 2001 at 11:19:32 PT |
| Laughing at what you fear is an ancient response.The fearful anti's are making tense jokes.A friend of mine actually keeps a big newspaper file of all the "comic" references to Mj.It's quite thick. Seems the only way for fearful people to "think" about mj is to approach it with a jokey title,so that the content is marked as "not serious" enough as merit further mental processing.Once the content is lost,the status quo is restored,and the person savors the humor of the "stoner jokes".Another opportunity to engage the brain,lost in tense laughter. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by greenfox on August 09, 2001 at 10:56:33 PT |
| I hate this. I really, really, really hate this. Once again, we see the media making a "joke" (or funny, as it were) out of this very important issue. "Gone to pot" all of the above are ACTUAL excerpts of titles of arcticles (just the few I could find) from the history of cannabisnews.com. so people... the only question is.... HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL?-gf [ Post Comment ] |
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