cannabisnews.com: Pot Should Be Sold to High Schoolers: Senate Pot Should Be Sold to High Schoolers: Senate Posted by CN Staff on September 04, 2002 at 15:22:54 PT By John Ward, Canadian Press Source: Toronto Star Pot smoking should be legal for any resident over 16, a Senate committee said today in a sweeping recommendation that goes beyond decriminalization or even the kind of tolerance in such cannabis-friendly jurisdictions as the Netherlands. The report was hailed by marijuana activists but fiercely condemned by the Canadian Police Association which called it "a back-to-school gift for drug pushers." Senator Pierre Claude Nolin, chairman of the special committee that drafted the report, acknowledged the issue remains in the hands of the federal government and said nothing is likely to happen quickly. A House if Commons committee is expected to issue a report on illicit drugs in November. Justice Minister Martin Cauchon said the government will study those findings and won't unveil its position before early next year. Cauchon wouldn't say whether he feels the time has come for legalization, but he did suggest current marijuana laws are outdated. "We must be able to evolve at the pace of society," he said in Quebec City. "It strikes me as unlikely that someone could have a criminal record after being arrested for simple possession. "When we have legislation that's not really being enforced because it's no longer consistent with social realities, it's important for a government to look at and reshape such legislation." While all political parties support decriminalization, legalization is a big step beyond that. The former would make it legal to possess small amounts of cannabis for personal use; the latter could see it sold at government outlets, even corner stores. The report said the current system of prohibition simply doesn't work and should be replaced by a regulated system, perhaps like that used for alcohol, with cannabis available to anyone 16 or older. "Scientific evidence overwhelmingly indicates that cannabis is substantially less harmful than alcohol and should be treated not as a criminal issue but as a social and public health issue," Nolin said. The senators called for an amnesty for the 300,000 to 600,000 Canadians who have a criminal record for simple possession of cannabis. They also recommended improvements to ease access to medicinal marijuana for people undergoing cancer chemotherapy or those suffering from glaucoma or chronic pain. Health Minister Anne McLellan said it's "too soon to say" if there will be changes to the regulations on medical pot, adding there's a need for careful trials. David Griffin, executive director of the Canadian Police Association, said he was appalled by the report. "Drugs are not dangerous because they're illegal, drugs are illegal because they are dangerous," he said. "There is no such thing as safe use of illicit drugs, including marijuana." The association said drugs, crime and violence go hand in hand, but Nolin said marijuana use doesn't lead to violence and legalizing it will eliminate the organized drug traffickers who may use violence. Nolin said scientific studies found that cannabis is not addictive and has few, if any, long-term effects. The report also concluded that the long-held view that cannabis use leads to abuse of harder drugs such as cocaine and heroin, is wrong. Nolin said liberalization policies in other countries have produced short-term rises in the number of users, but that this effect levelled off and eventually dropped. He said the senators recommended legalization over decriminalization because the latter would leave the production and sale of cannabis in the hands of organized crime. Nolin said the idea is not to encourage marijuana use, but to regulate it, saving hundreds of millions in annual drug-enforcement costs. Marc Boris, leader of the Marijuana Party, welcomed the report, joking that Nolin should become senator for his party. But Boris didn't see the report as a breakthrough. "The big challenge, now, is to see those recommendations translated in the reality," he said from Saint-Maurice, Que. "The government is responsible for that part, and we all know that the government don't like to address sensitive issues." MP Keith Martin of the Canadian Alliance, a medical doctor, called the report an important step in reforming drug laws, but said it should have gone for decriminalization, not legalization. "Decriminalization will decrease pot use, unlike full legalization, which will only serve to make Canada an even greater haven for organized crime," Martin said. The Senate report said marijuana was banned in 1923 amid "a moral panic, racist sentiment and a notorious absence of debate." The report comes three months before the Supreme Court of Canada is to hear a constitutional challenge to the legality of the marijuana laws and follows a two-year committee study of public policy related to marijuana. Note: Members also recommend purging of drug offences from police files. Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)Author: John Ward, Canadian Press Published: September 4, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Toronto Star Contact: lettertoed thestar.com Website: http://www.thestar.com/ Related Articles:The Special Senate Committee on Illegal Drugs http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13987.shtmlPot Less Harmful Than Alcohol: Senate Report http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13986.shtmlSenate Committee Recommends Legalizing Pot http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13985.shtmlCanada Panel Wants Legal Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13983.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #10 posted by legalizeit on September 04, 2002 at 21:39:35 PT If this story shows up on US media... ... it will most likely sport a reefer-madness style headline like the one on this article, and then they will try to spin it so it sounds like Canada's government seeks to turn its high schools into pot smoking communes with degenerates who walk around dazed between classes, blah blah. So just is their cause, and the $$$$$$$$ that go with it, they will go to any lengths. Gotta save the CHHHILDRUNNN from the Evil Weed spawned of original sin in Satan's own greenhouse! It's only a matter of time though, even here... the initiave attention that pot has been getting at local and state levels, along with high-profile support from Gary Johnson and others, shows that the Sheeple are actually beginning to wake up and realize that the Gov. has been feeding us a Crock of Shhhhaving Cream all these years! Especially since most of the Sheeple have smoked the Herb before and not turned into dumb forgetful raving lunatics like Uncle Sam said they would!I wish Canada the very best and hope it is successful in achieving full legalization!Thanks FoM, Mr. Cowan, and all the others who through this infinite medium let the Truth be known to anyone who seeks it, no longer limiting us to the sanitized and spin-dried tripe that ends up on the evening news!I wish Canada the best, & hope NV and the rest of North America aren't too far behind! [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Richard Lake on September 04, 2002 at 21:18:22 PT: LeDain Commission The Report of the Canadian Government Commission of Inquiry into the Non-Medical Use of Drugs - 1972 - commonly known as the LeDain Commission was one of the reports that really helped with the lowering of punishments in several states in the years immediately following it's release. The report is on line athttp://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/Library/studies/ledain/ldctoc.htmlMarie-Andree Bertrand of the commission testified at the trial of Chris Clay. His constitutional challenge is the 'recreational' use case (I prefer the words social use) case that will be heard by the Canadian Supreme Court later this year. Her affidavit along with the others from the ChrisClay trial are a critical part of the record for the case. They are all linked fromhttp://www.cannabislink.ca/legal/index.htmbtw, the fact that they are available on line represents a good couple months of OCRing and proof reading. I still have the copies I used, sent via mail to me by my friend Chris Clay - and containing a whole lot of fingerprints of the U.S. agents who probably freaked out when they inspected (and I suspect copied) them on the way to me.Matt Elrod is writing a feature for this week's DrugSense Weekly out Friday which will attempt to go over this report, the Canadian house report due later, and the Supreme Court cases in a way that should help us yanks better understand what is going on north of the border.I will attempt to keep this page updated with audio/video links related to the reporthttp://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1649/a01.htmlRichard MAP's Canadian Cannabis Clippings [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by The GCW on September 04, 2002 at 18:58:28 PT Mayan - Racist Sentiment Acknowledged!!! Good observaition.Another one of the prohibitionists great fears must include the fact that when this farce becomes exposed, en mass, there is going to be exposure of blood on thier hands.As this historical grotesqueness becomes revealed, on a large scale, the ones with the taste of blood in their mouth, will squirm funny, to hide the stain.Their not going to like that.Never try to teach a pig to sing. It only wastes Your time, and it annoys the pig.AND AGAIN,OH CANADA [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by The GCW on September 04, 2002 at 18:44:04 PT Perhaps the killing age is a good time... quoted: "like that used for alcohol, with cannabis available to anyone 16 or older."It is ok to age it like booze. If booze is 21 though it seems like 18 would be ok for Young people.What about the age at which governments draft to kill? Isn't it 18 for Americans to be forced to kill?Kids expected to perform the task of murderer and killer, should be able to handle smoking cannabis. Of course, for children facing pain and death, when a doctor suggests cannabis over, say, morphine as a potential choice, age is not the issue,,, right? [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by overtoke on September 04, 2002 at 18:36:09 PT: Thank God This is truly significant.Live coverage of the truth!Simply Amazing. I wonder if US tv will pick it up late night or tomorrow. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by mayan on September 04, 2002 at 18:10:56 PT Racist Sentiment Acknowledged!!! The Senate report said marijuana was banned in 1923 amid "a moral panic, racist sentiment and a notorious absence of debate." The report comes three months before the Supreme Court of Canada is to hear a constitutional challenge to the legality of the marijuana laws and follows a two-year committee study of public policy related to marijuana. This is the first time I have heard any government body refer to the cannabis laws as a product of racist sentiment! I can't wait until the ball is in the Supreme Court's court. This could be the straw that finally breaks that pesky camel's back!!!unrelated -Weekend NYC Area Events To Challenge Official 9/11 Story - - Offer Highly Documented Lines Of Inquiry In Ongoing Investigation: http://www.scoop.co.nz/archive/scoop/stories/a6/9b/200209041444.8fc5cb45.htmlFunding War Public Relations With Foreign Cash - Like Father Like Son? http://www.scoop.co.nz/archive/scoop/stories/bb/43/200209041736.de2833dd.htmlVICE PRESIDENT IN CONTEMPT OF ENERGY TASK FORCE COURT ORDER: http://www.judicialwatch.org/2429.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on September 04, 2002 at 16:11:30 PT CBC Video http://cbc.ca/clips/ram-lo/vandusen_pot020904.ram [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by potpal on September 04, 2002 at 16:04:29 PT Dollars and sense... Nolin said the idea is not to encourage marijuana use, but to regulate it, saving hundreds of millions in annual drug-enforcement costs. Translation: hundreds of millions not going to the Canadian police association.David Griffin, executive director of the Canadian Police Association, said he was appalled by the report. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Sam Adams on September 04, 2002 at 15:53:15 PT musings The report is great, but looking at the overall reaction to it is frustrating. A lot of great things for humanity happened in the 20th century, technology and science has raised the standard of living for us, but it seems like the price for advancement of Western civilization was a complete take-over by corporations and government.Legalization is great, but what is all this hoo-ha over like 5 new government agencies? Any solution the government comes up with always involves MORE government. Cannabis available only at government outlets? Why? What they hell are they doing in the plant business? Is the basic principle of human freedom completely dead? Is anyone reading this stuff and saying "What the hell is wrong with these people?"The government should immediately strike the mention of "cannabis" and "marijuana" from every single law on the books. We DO NOT need government involvement here! Cannabis was 100% unregulated in the US for 150 years, and most people probably never even heard of it!Recent developments in Canada and England are great, but it makes me wonder if we'll ever really be able to "free the herb" within the framework of "modern" government. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by BGreen on September 04, 2002 at 15:45:19 PT Did you catch this? The report comes three months before the Supreme Court of Canada is to hear a constitutional challenge to the legality of the marijuana laws [ Post Comment ] Post Comment