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| Should We 'Treat Pot Like Tobacco?' Senators Ask |
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Posted by CN Staff on May 02, 2002 at 12:06:14 PT Commentary Source: CBC 
Suggesting there may be solid reasons to decriminalize marijuana, a Senate committee released its preliminary review of existing policy Thursday and said it plans to hold public hearings. The "discussion paper" comes after more than a year of looking at cannabis, and is intended to spark debate over possible changes to the law. Although the committee is not scheduled to deliver its final report, Focusing on Cannabis, until August, "preliminary conclusions are becoming more apparent to us," Senator Pierre Claude Nolin said Thursday. For instance, scientific evidence suggests marijuana is "not a gateway" to harder drugs, like cocaine, heroin and other more addictive substances, Nolin said. "It may be appropriate to treat it more like alcohol or tobacco than like the harder drugs," according to Nolin. "We now need to add the views of Canadians to expert testimony and evidence we've received to date to see where we should go from here." In Thursday's paper, the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs included a summary of opinions from experts in many fields, including pharmacology and psychology: * Cannabis is a psycho-active substance so it's "better" not to use it * Fewer than 10 per cent of users become addicted * Use among young people has increased in recent years * Although cannabis can be unhealthy, the effects are "relatively benign" * Very limited direct effect on public safety, although sales may fuel organized crime * Impaired driving concerns not firmly established A lot of public money is spent on law enforcement, even though public policies don't seem to discourage use of drug
* What should the role of the state be in educating people and preventing abuse? * Should criminal law be limited to cases involving "demonstrable and significant harm" to others? Senators plan to hold six hearings across the country over the next two months, beginning in Regina on May 13. Public meetings are also scheduled in Richmond, B.C., Montreal, Mount Pearl, Nfld., Moncton, N.B. and Windsor, Ont. In Depth: Marijuana Laws: http://cbc.ca/news/indepth/background/marijuana_legalize.html Written by CBC News Online staff Source: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (Canada Web) CannabisNews - Cannabis Archives Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #13 posted by stickyresins on June 14, 2002 at 12:38:00 PT |
| I think that we should in no way treat pot like tobacco. If that were the case does it mean that we need to add hundreds of chemicals to pot for commercial sale? NO....i would be pissed if MJ was legalized and then marlboro or camel started selling packs of it....that thought is disgusting. BTW FoM...i would like to thank you for this site. It is very informative and i come just about everyday to read up on the newest cannabis news. You give me hope in this endless war on the american people. Does anyone besides me have that feeling in your gut that tells you it is time for a revolution? [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #12 posted by FoM on May 05, 2002 at 07:39:43 PT |
| My husband was reading the news and saw your question. I don't have my satellite hooked up yet so I miss lots of stuff but soon won't and I can't wait. Why I'm using CN Staff is because it is a generic term and looks more professional. What actually is an FoM when you think about it? When I started C News I never in my wildest imagination expected the site to get this big. We broke another record for April and had well over 1, 800, 000 total hits and I thought I should change the name because I have plans when I get my satellite to do much more then I can now. I am the CN Staff but in the future I might need help and that opens the door to that prospect if that makes sense? I don't have anyone to check if I make a mistake or I don't have anyone to help me with anything about how to do the news etc. and at the rate of growth we are experiences I'm planning ahead. What do you think about it? It was hard to do but I thought we have grown up and it was time. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #11 posted by FoM on May 02, 2002 at 19:31:33 PT |
| I didn't know where to but this small but important news brief so I'm putting it here. The walls are crumbling!
Source: The New Mexico Governors of northern border states are studying the possibility of legalizing marijuana, the governor of Chihuahua said Wednesday. "The governors of border states have asked various institutions to report on the effects of addiction to this substance," said Gov. Patricio Martinez. He said the proposal came out of a summit of governors of the northern states of Chihuahua, Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon and Coahuila on April 19, which was also attended by the President Vicente Fox. Legalization of the drug "should be studied, because it's clear that what has been done to date hasn't worked since drug consumption keeps rising, in spite of the wars waged against it," he said. Mexico grows marijuana and is a major transshipment country for U.S.-bound cocaine and heroin. Many of the major drug cartels that process and transport drugs to the United States are based along the border. The results of the study will be delivered to the Border Governors' Commission and from there to the national Governor's Conference in June. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #10 posted by aocp on May 02, 2002 at 14:53:39 PT |
| Should We 'Treat Pot Like Tobacco?' Senators Ask Switch that to read, "Should we treat tobacco like pot?" and the answer should run you over like a freight train. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #9 posted by Naaps on May 02, 2002 at 14:49:24 PT |
| The Canadian Senate’s Special Committee on Illegal Drugs will probably come up with some thoroughly valid and insightful points. The question is: Will it be acted upon? Presently, the House of Commons has another committee evaluating drugs, The Special Parliamentary Committee on the Non-Medical Use of Drugs, with MP Randy White as the Vice-Chair. Recently, when MP Keith Martin touched the speaker’s mace after his private member’s bill for the decriminalization was nixed, MP Ralph Goodale, said that Mr. Martin should wait for the results from the Special Parliamentary Committee. It should be noted that MP Randy White is a staunch prohibitionist, who even before the Parliamentary Committee was convened, had strong views on drugs. In his campaigning, he would mention the young woman he saw prostituting herself to obtain drug money, while he was sitting with undercover cops patrolling ‘kiddy stroll’ in Vancouver. Also, he passes out bumper stickers with a circled needle with a line through it captioned, “Say no to drugs.” My 6-year-old niece was presented with the bumper sticker at a May Day parade. In contrast, Senator Nolin, admits to inhaling cannabis smoke, and conducts his committee work with an open mind. The present Liberal Government doesn’t look to be making any changes. Prime Minister Chretien has said that modifying the cannabis laws is not a priority. Meanwhile, the talk has been about harmonizing Canada and US relations. Based on the following facts, Canada is deathly afraid of being shutout of American markets. 1) There is 1.4 Billion dollars of business a day between our countries. 2) One quarter of all Canadian jobs is directly linked to trade with America. 3) America accounts for 87% of our trade. The harmonization is related to NAFTA plus, which is the building of a continental trade zone. Even adopting the US dollar is being considered. For Canada, in the minds of those governing us, to unilaterally make changes to our drug laws, would be to jeopardize trade relations. I’m certain that US Ambassador Paul Cellucci has briefed the Prime Minister thoroughly on the potential ramifications. This is why when Ann McLellon was Justice Minister, she demurred regarding cannabis legalization, stating, “Canada cannot unilaterally change laws, we do not live in a vacuum, we must be mindful of the international community.” I want legalization as much as anyone, but the present government probably won’t do it. As for the Senate Committee results, potentially they can be tucked away with the LeDain Commission results. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #8 posted by Dan B on May 02, 2002 at 14:07:25 PT:
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| It looks quite professional,but I was stillwondering about the posting by CN Staff (as opposed to the usual FoM). Is there now more than one person working to post articles on Cannabis News? I'm just curious about the new development. I realize that this is not the first article posted by CN Staff (but I believe it is the second). Dan B [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #7 posted by TroutMask on May 02, 2002 at 13:18:01 PT |
| If Canada decrims this year, we will take a week-long vacation there next year. If not, it's off to Europe for a week. More expensive but more free. -TM [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #6 posted by kaptinemo on May 02, 2002 at 12:58:08 PT:
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| The last time I was visiting friends in Canada (ca. 2000), things weren't too bad economically...if you lived in a Mega-metro like Toronto. But go up on the QEW from the border to TO, and you see lots of empty places. Big buildings...devoid of people. Because the economy sucked out there. Now, imagine for a moment: Canada decrims. First will come the tourists who can't afford to fly to Holland or (smile) 'Vansterdam'. But they have a car and plenty of petrol...and money. Those border Provinces and Quebec can expect to make a windfall in their economies, far more than they presently do from the slumped tourist trade. But it gets better: the 'traveller's tales' of sensible governmental action vis-a-vis cannabis will spread like wildfire. True to form, in reaction we can expect the US to become even more oppressive rather than less so. A move which could cost it dearly. Because it will do it's technological base what Hitler did to Germany's technological base when he persecuted the Jewish scientists...who emigrated...and were instrumental in building the first fission bombs. Which were going to be used on Germany first...until it folded. I've said it before, and will say it again: if the US doesn't watch out, it will experience a reverse brain drain the likes it has never seen. Those fed up with the increasingly insane prosecution of the DrugWar will emigrate...and take their skills, their property, and their money with them. During the 1970's Conservatives used to say that people fleeing persecution in Communist countries were 'voting with their feet'. I'd wager that they'd show absolute dismay at the possibility that former American citizens would do precisely that should Canada do the right thing. This ain't the country I was willing to risk life and limb for, anymore. Not casting aspersions on anyone's faith, but I feel very uncomfortable when someone who 'speaks in tongues' and favors throwing people like me in jail for doing something ol' George Washington may have done (why else did he tell his foremen to seperate the male from female plants?) are in charge of my country's legal system. A man who enters an altered state to talk to God...won't let me do the same. Is this America? I've got a nice new set of walking shoes, just ready for the day. Try me, Ashcroft... [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #5 posted by Robbie on May 02, 2002 at 12:49:24 PT |
| You shouldn't treat cannabis like tobacco. Cannabis is FAR less dangerous and harmful than tobacco. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #4 posted by dddd on May 02, 2002 at 12:43:32 PT |
| ..I say Canada would probably already have "got it right",if it were not for the US DrugPig Empire. . .. ..I see it like this,,,I think it is extremely unlikely that Canada will be able to legalize Marijuana unless the amerikan regime somehow approves...I'm not saying that Canada is wimpy,or subserviant to uncle sham,, I just cant imagine the US drug war industry allowing it to happen... There would be a surge in border traffic,and emigration(sp?),,... nope,,I think Canada will go through the same akward struggle as we have already seen... Laws will be passed,,and then struck down by dark powers deep within the inner circles... sorry,, I still hope for the best ..After all,, we dont have much more than Hope!..... dddd [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by WolfgangWylde on May 02, 2002 at 12:28:22 PT |
| I've heard this song too many times to be optimistic (the Schaffer Commission, the LeDain Commission, etc.) They spend the money, convene the commissions, review the facts, publish the results, and then politely ignore the findings. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by DdC on May 02, 2002 at 12:24:23 PT |
| Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did, and it never will. Find out just what people will submit to, and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them; and these will continue until they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress. Frederick Douglass, August 4, 1857 Organic Cannabis/Tobacco vs 670+ undisclosed Chemicals in Cigarettes Kicking Down the Closet Doors! Come Out Tokers Wherever You Are! World 190 cities MMM Home Page San Francisco Pot Pride Parade and Rally Noon March at 4:20pm Santa Cruz MMM meet 4pm at the Clock Tower March at 4:20 pm http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SCMJMarch The Chemical Manipulation of Human Consciousness The Toxic Alternative to Natural Fiber Costa Rican Studies tobacco v cannabis Drug Deaths per year [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by greenfox on May 02, 2002 at 12:19:11 PT |
| I say Canada gets it right within 5 years. The us? 50. [ Post Comment ] |
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