cannabisnews.com: Chretien To Propose Bill on Marijuana





Chretien To Propose Bill on Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on April 30, 2003 at 11:24:32 PT
By The Associated Press 
Source: Associated Press
Ottawa -- Don't light up yet, Prime Minister Jean Chretien cautions, but soon his government will propose a bill to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana in Canada. Chretien drew applause, and even a couple of joyful whoops, on Tuesday night when he told a fundraising dinner for his Liberal Party that the legislation was coming.
The goal, he said, is to prevent young people who smoke a joint from getting a criminal record for the rest of their lives. The law would not legalize marijuana, but would make possessing less than an ounce (28 grams) an offense similar to a traffic violation, he said. "Don't start to smoke yet," Chretien said. "We're not legalizing it, we're decriminalizing." His justice minister, Martin Cauchon, said last year that decriminalizing marijuana possession was a legislative goal for 2003. Two Parliament committees have recommended relaxing marijuana laws, and some Canadian judges have thrown out possession charges because of uncertainty over the federal law. Chretien said decriminalizing marijuana possession would come with a federal anti-drug education program, as called for by the Parliament committees. The penalty would be a fine, just like a traffic ticket. "So you will have another ticket, for losing your senses, or something like that," he said. Across the border, U.S. officials who impose a zero-tolerance policy for marijuana dislike the Canadian intentions. John Walters, director of the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy, has said that liberalizing laws will boost drug use and bring more pot into the United States. He also said the United States would be forced to combat the increased flow of drugs. In 2001, Canada implemented a medical marijuana program that allows some patients to possess and grow pot. Eight U.S. states have taken some kind of step toward permitting the medicinal use of marijuana. The U.S. Supreme Court, however, has ruled there is no exception in federal law for people to use marijuana, so even those with tolerant state laws could face arrest if they do. On the Net: U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration at: http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/ Canadian site advocating marijuana culture: http://www.cannabisculture.com/ Source: Associated PressPublished: Wednesday, April 30, 2003Copyright: 2003 Associated Press Related Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmChrétien Ready To Ease Pot Possession Law http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16113.shtmlPM Renews Promise To Ease Pot Possession Laws http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16108.shtmlPM Says Pot Soon To Be Decriminalized http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16107.shtml
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Comment #1 posted by Billos on April 30, 2003 at 14:25:54 PT:
Is this really the "goal"?
"The goal, he said, is to prevent young people who smoke a joint from getting a criminal record for the rest of their lives".
  Martin CauchonWhat about the OLD people who work every frigin' day of our lives to foot the bill for the GD whole country yet go to prison for cannabis possession? And, what are young people doing with cannabis anyway? Parents?
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