cannabisnews.com: New Approach Needed as War on Drugs Flounders





New Approach Needed as War on Drugs Flounders
Posted by FoM on December 19, 2001 at 08:13:36 PT
By Dr. Keith Martin, MP, and Kerrie Woods 
Source: Calgary Herald 
Our punitive approach to illicit drug use is outdated, expensive and wastes the valuable time of our law enforcement agencies, criminal courts and penal institutions. It has made Vancouver notorious for its high rate of drug-related deaths, HIV infection, and crime. Against a backdrop of limited resources and increased demands, especially after Sept. 11, it is crucial that we find a better way to reduce consumption, neutralize organized crime gangs and prevent people from slipping into the life destroying spiral of addiction.
Each year, more than $400 million is spent on drug-related law enforcement in Canada. Although this figure is for all illicit drugs, a 1999 Statistics Canada report showed that 75 per cent of drug-related criminal charges are connected with marijuana. Half of these were for simple possession. Thus, decriminalizing marijuana possession could save us approximately $150 million every year.Many police groups recognize this and support decriminalization. The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) calls for the "establishment of alternative justice measures . . . for summary conviction offences of the possession of cannabis," and suggests a system of fines. The RCMP has made similar overtures, with certain caveats. These include reducing demand for marijuana through prevention and education programs, and the need to incorporate tools into the justice system to help those who have become drug dependent. My private member's bill, C-344, introduced this year, calls for the decriminalization of simple marijuana possession. However, this is only the first step in a comprehensive plan that will reduce substance abuse in Canada. The bill sets fines for the possession of marijuana: $200 for a first offence, $500 for the second and $1,000 for subsequent offences.The fines act as a deterrent and allow simple possession to be dealt with effectively and cheaply outside the Criminal Code.More than 600,000 Canadians have a record because they were caught with a small amount of pot. This makes it extremely difficult to pursue certain careers, and to travel. In this sense, the current law stifles ambition and economic performance, for getting caught will severely compromise a person's future career opportunities. As The Journal of the Canadian Medical Association states: "The real harm is the legal and social fallout . . . this means that . . . the question 'Have you ever had a criminal conviction?' during a job application or a medical school interview can force higher aspirations to go up in smoke."Some critics argue marijuana draws users down a slippery slope of hard drug abuse. However, experiences from countries that have decriminalized marijuana seem to dispel this myth.In the Netherlands, where they have set up a framework separating the markets of soft and hard drugs and allow people to use marijuana within a controlled environment, 18 per cent of the population uses the drug, compared with 23 per cent in Canada and 36 per cent in the U.S. In the Netherlands, 2.4 per cent of people have used cocaine. In Canada, this figure is 3.8 per cent and in the U.S., it is an astounding 12 per cent. While nearly one per cent of Americans have used heroin, in Holland only 0.2 percent of people have ever used the drug.In Holland, drug overdoses and the number of intravenous drug users infected with HIV are much lower. There are around 40 drug-related deaths in Holland every year, from a total population of 16 million. In Canada, a country of about 30 million, this figure is around 730.Support for the decriminalization of marijuana can be found in many areas, most importantly in the public. Polls repeatedly show that up to 75 per cent of Canadians support decriminalization. Even Anne McLellan, our Justice Minister, has welcomed a "larger debate about how we should deal with certain aspects of the possession and use of drugs."Decriminalization, however, must be part of a larger, more comprehensive plan that adopts new approaches to prevention, treatment and legislation to go after organized crime gangs and international drug traffickers. In 1998, the House of Commons passed a motion calling for a national Head Start program. This program strengthens the parent-child bond, ensures that children have their basic needs met and teaches simple parenting skills. It has been copied in Michigan, Hawaii and a smattering of other places nationwide. In those experiences, child abuse and youth crime rates have plummeted, kids stay in school longer, there is less welfare dependency and less drug use. Savings to the taxpayer were seven dollars for every dollar spent.We must also take a tough line against the real villains, those who supply, traffic and produce illicit drugs. RICO, (Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organization) legislation, if adopted, will enable us to hit organized crime gangs hard by freezing and apprehending their financial assets.The war against drugs is lost, and we must change our approach. Tackling the issue from the source country alone, as we have tried in Colombia, does not work. The punitive methods we have employed for so long only help to keep corruption, crime and disease rates intolerably high. We have to look at our own system of drug laws, enforcement and treatment, and find ways to decrease consumption. After all, if there were no demand for illicit drugs, there would be no need for supply.The time has come to have an intelligent and responsible debate on the issue of drug use in Canada. We must shift the focus of enforcement onto those who traffic and import all illicit drugs.Bill C-344 is a first step that will help us to use our limited resources more wisely without condoning illicit drug use. It will reduce harm across the societal scale: individuals battling substance abuse, the kids in our schools and drug-related scourges such as AIDS, crime, unemployment and property devaluation. With international support, we can instigate a new war on drugs, one that will not fail the society of today, or tomorrow. Dr. Keith Martin (CA-Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca) was former Critic of International Human Rights and Health for the Reform Party, and has sat in the House of Commons since 1993.Note: We have lost the war on drugs. Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)Author: Dr. Keith Martin, MP, and Kerrie WoodsPublished: December 19, 2001Copyright: 2001 Calgary HeraldContact: letters theherald.southam.caWeb Site: http://www.calgaryherald.com/Related Articles & Web Site:FTE's Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmMajority of MPs Support Decriminalizing Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11291.shtmlCriminal Possession Law is Reefer Madnesshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11272.shtml 
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Comment #9 posted by puff_tuff on December 19, 2001 at 14:32:53 PT
TroutMask
If you want to keep up with the happenings in Canada may I suggest you subscribe to the "Mattalk" (CMAP) mailing list.It's very current news and discussion
http://www.mapinc.org/cmap/lists.htmCanadian Media Awareness Project 
http://www.mapinc.org/cmap/
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Comment #8 posted by puff_tuff on December 19, 2001 at 14:17:45 PT
Bill C-344 (Decriminilization)
The author of that LTE is mistaken. Bill C-344 is allotted 3 hours of debate in the House of Commons. They had the first hour of debate on Nov/07/01, the next 2 hours will be in the new year sometime. Don't expect an actual vote till the spring or summer.Here's the first hour of debate (click next at the bottom of each page)http://www.parl.gc.ca/37/1/parlbus/chambus/house/debates/111_2001-11-07/han111_1730-E.htm Here's the Billhttp://www.parl.gc.ca/37/1/parlbus/chambus/house/bills/private/C-344/C-344_1/C-344TOCE.html
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on December 19, 2001 at 11:29:15 PT
Thanks TroutMask
I'll check my email. Someone really needs to look at the inside of this program and fix some of the errors. I think my connection is making it hard but it shouldn't be this hard for me. 
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Comment #6 posted by TroutMask on December 19, 2001 at 11:25:30 PT
I may be able to help.
I may be able to help you, FoM. I just emailed you (admin cannabisnews.com).-TM
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on December 19, 2001 at 11:14:02 PT
Thanks TroutMask
I agree. I sure wish I could do more then I am but I don't have any help. I can't work in the program because it is way over my head. I'm at a point where I need to find a skilled html programmer I'm afraid. Maybe someone can offer a suggestion. Matt is busy doing Maps stuff and I know he doesn't have any free time. I just need help. Thanks again.
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Comment #4 posted by TroutMask on December 19, 2001 at 11:06:25 PT
here you go...
This is a link to that LTE:http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n2095/a07.html?397I wish there was a site that provided daily updates on what's going on in the Canadian legislature. It's too bad all I have to go on is a LTE.Here is a link to Canadian marijuana law info, including upcoming attacks:http://www.drugsense.org/tcl-TM
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on December 19, 2001 at 09:13:53 PT
TroutMask
Do you have a link to the article? I asked Matt to try to figure out a way to put LTE's on Cannabis News. I don't do LTE's because it would make too much work for me but maybe Matt can get this done. That would be nice. I have such a poor phone connection it takes me almost all day to get the few articles done that I do. Thanks!
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Comment #2 posted by TroutMask on December 19, 2001 at 09:01:02 PT
This month!
According to a letter-to-the-editor published at www.mapinc.org, the Canadian House of Commons will vote on marijuana decrim THIS MONTH.-TM
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Comment #1 posted by puff_tuff on December 19, 2001 at 08:35:58 PT
NETHERLANDS 
Here is a brief submitted to the Canadian Senate CommitteeTRENDS AND PATTERNS IN CANNABIS USE IN THE NETHERLANDS Dirk J. KorfUniversity of Amsterdam 
(Bonger Institute of Criminology)http://www.parl.gc.ca/37/1/parlbus/commbus/senate/com-e/ille-e/presentation-e/korf-e.htm
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