|
|
| Pot Smokers Gain Senate Backers |
|
Posted by CN Staff on May 03, 2002 at 07:25:32 PT By Kim Lunman Source: Globe and Mail 
Canadian pot smokers have found new political allies in the stodgy Senate. Some members of the chamber of sober second thought say there is no proof marijuana leads to the use of other drugs.The Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs released a discussion paper yesterday on marijuana that states there is no scientific evidence that cannabis leads users to harder narcotics. "It may be appropriate to treat it more like alcohol or tobacco than like the harder drugs," said Senator Pierre Claude Nolin, chairman of the special committee. But Mr. Nolin said it is too early to know whether the committee, in its final report to be completed by August, will recommend decriminalizing marijuana. "We're questioning prohibition as an effective way or policy to control a substance." Two years ago, the five-member committee embarked on its review of antidrug legislation and policies. It has heard from 80 witnesses, including the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users, the Canadian Police Association and public-health experts. "We know it's an important question," Mr. Nolin said. "Almost all Canadians have an opinion on drugs." Mr. Nolin said the committee heard many times from those who believe decriminalizing marijuana is morally wrong. "Moral is not exactly the kind of scientific evidence we're looking for," he said. The senators' discussion paper on cannabis found that most recreational users smoke marijuana "only temporarily and irregularly," with 10 per cent becoming "chronic users" and 5 to 10 per cent becoming addicted. The report found that marijuana is not a "gateway" to getting hooked on harder drugs. "There is no convincing evidence to establish the gateway hypothesis," the discussion paper states. "Data from population surveys show that out of 100 cannabis users in adolescence, about 10 will become regular users and five will move to using other drugs." Senator Tommy Banks said that one concern of the committee members is the cost of enforcement in criminal cases involving marijuana. The committee reports that 30,000 people are charged with simple cannabis possession each year. "Marijuana is perhaps the least harmful 'drug,' " Mr. Banks said. The committee will travel to six cities across Canada, including Montreal, Regina and Richmond, B.C, in May and June for town-hall meetings on the issue. Last week, the Liberal government effectively blocked a private member's bill introduced by Canadian Alliance MP Keith Martin to decriminalize possession of small quantities of marijuana. Dr. Martin said the Senate committee's study will not result in any significant changes. "This problem goes around and around in circles," he said. "For the Senate to study it again is a waste of time, money and the House resources. They just need to act instead of studying things ad nauseum." Marc Emery, president of the B.C. Marijuana Party in Vancouver, welcomed the committee's findings but said he doubts they will result in any change in drug laws. "They're giving everyone a fair shake because they don't have a political stake," he said. "But the Prime Minister's Office won't have anything to do with it." Source: Globe and Mail (Canada) Related Article & Web Site: Canadian Links Laws Have No Effect on Pot-Smoking Young People Canada: The Debate Over Decriminalization Should We Treat Pot Like Tobacco? Senators Ask Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
 |
| Comment #4 posted by naaps on May 03, 2002 at 16:17:01 PT |
| I applaud both the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs and their just released discussion paper. In February, I attended the Committee Hearings in Vancouver, and found it thoroughly interesting, with almost every witness decrying the present illegal status of cannabis, as well as voicing concern for the present treatment opinions for users of harder drugs. In a full day of testimony only a couple presenters opined that cannabis required greater sanctions. Both were clearly drug war profiteers – one wrote manuals for educators running DARE type propaganda programs, and the other ran a treatment facility. However, I agree with Marc Emery and MP Dr. Keith Martin that the Senate Committee results probably will not be acted upon. The best that may come from their work is the voluminous amount of current data they accumulate, and the news stories their efforts generate. My skepticism comes from the role the Senate holds, and the fact that the House of Commons has their own Special Parliamentary Committee on the Non-Medical Use of Drugs. The Senate is supposed to be for sober second thoughts on Bills passing into law. The reality is that it is a pasture for political appointees. I can’t recall the last time the Senate refused a Bill, or passed it back to the Commons before stamping it into law. Meanwhile, MP Randy White, Vice-Chair of the Parliamentary Committee can’t hide his contempt of loosening the laws pertaining to cannabis. At a recent hearing in Halifax he curtly told a couple University Professors who advocated legalizing, “A lot of parents aren’t going to accept that.” Regarding Kaptinemo’s comments pertaining to Prime Minister Chretien’s canine lineage, he is definitely more a lapdog than a wolf. He appears poised to serve another term simply by not making any significant changes, and through the disarray of the opposition parties. Just look at the handling of former Health Minister Alan Rock's cannabis garden. Shuffle the cabinet and the suffering people are essentially back at square one. Meanwhile, while former Justice Minister Ann McLellon conceded that marijuana laws deserved a review, the new Justice Minister Martin Cauchon won’t even comment on cannabis law reform. I will definitely attend the Senate Committee Hearing to be held in Richmond, B.C. on May 14th. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by SpaceCat on May 03, 2002 at 09:04:38 PT |
| Can you imagine a US Senate committee making statements like this? It seems otherworldy. I agree with Emery, though (and with Kap, but I think Chretien has already made up his mind). Chretien has proved a cretin in the past on this issue, bleating in thrall-like syncopation to the DEAland drumbeat. He will not be able to shake the Southern Stupor even though it is to his own detriment. [ Post Comment ] |
|
Comment #2 posted by kaptinemo on May 03, 2002 at 08:06:01 PT:
|
| M. Chretien will have to decide soon; events are fast overtaking him. The preponderance of evidence supports legalization. The Chretien Regime knows it. I can imagine many of the Grit back-benchers in Parliament are quietly grousing at him to 'get off the stick' before their rivals in the Canadian Alliance grab this ball and run away with it. Which many of them, if only for political reasons, seem more than capable of doing. But Chretien seems to hear only the siren song of US DrugWarriors. Perhaps he would prefer to hear the sounds of Canadian voting machines providing syncopation to his ouster? This is a major issue concerning Canadian sovereignty, no matter how you slice this. Caving in to pressure from the US concerning the (now officially admitted!) pointlessness of continuing prohibition and destroying the lives of Canadians by saddling them with arrest records to please US DrugWarriors won't sit well with some of the Canucks I know. And, unlike many Americans, many Canadians do vote. Perhaps it's time for a vote of no confidence? [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by TroutMask on May 03, 2002 at 08:04:52 PT |
| Mr. Nolin said it is too early to know whether the committee, in its final report to be completed by August, will recommend decriminalizing marijuana. "We're questioning prohibition as an effective way or policy to control a substance." If you continue to question prohibition, it will die. So, goodbye prohibition. The sooner it happens in Canada, the sooner it happens in the US. -TM [ Post Comment ] |
| Post Comment |  |
 |  |