cannabisnews.com: Rate of Drug Offences Hits 20-Year High 





Rate of Drug Offences Hits 20-Year High 
Posted by CN Staff on July 24, 2003 at 12:11:52 PT
By Allison Dunfield, Globe and Mail Update 
Source: Globe and Mail 
The rate of drug offences in Canada is at a 20-year-high, fuelled by increases in cannabis offences and those involving synthetic drugs such as ecstasy. In 2002, police reported nearly 93,000 incidents related to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, a 3-per-cent jump over the previous year, Statistics Canada said in a snapshot of crime statistics released Thursday.
The rate of drug offences has risen steadily for nine years in a row, the agency said.In terms of cannabis, the majority of offences involve possession of the drug.Rates of incidents involving marijuana rose 2 per cent in 2002 and have doubled since 1991. The rates of incidence are per 100,000 population.This could change the next time Statistics Canada completes a crime survey, because a bill before Parliament would relax laws relating to possession of the drug.Under the proposed law, possession of marijuana would remain illegal, but someone caught with less than 15 grams would face only a fine.The change would do away with criminal fines and jail terms for people convicted of possession of limited quantities. Instead, they would be fined in much the same manner as a traffic violation.Currently, anyone found with 30 grams or less can be charged with common possession of the drug, while anyone with more than 30 grams can be prosecuted for intent to sell.The legislation has yet to pass Parliament, however, and it may not do so soon.In 2002, the rate of cannabis offences rose 2 per cent. Nearly three-quarters of marijuana-related offences were for possession, 15 per cent for trafficking, 12 per cent for production and 1 per cent for importation.British Columbia has traditionally had the highest rate of incidents involving possession since 1982, but rate of incidents in B.C. involving possession dropped 3 per cent in 2002.Other drug-related incidents also rose. Cocaine offences were up 1 per cent and other drug offences related to synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine (known by its street name, 'speed') rose 11 per cent.Heroin use, however, dropped 18 per cent. Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)Author: Allison Dunfield, Globe and Mail Update Published: Thursday, July 24, 2003 Copyright: 2003 The Globe and Mail CompanyContact: letters globeandmail.caWebsite: http://www.globeandmail.com/Related Articles:Cannabis Closer To Legalization http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16896.shtmlSmoking Judge Strikes Blow for Pot Puffers http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16750.shtmlJudge Says Pot No Worse Than Alcoholhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16680.shtml
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on July 24, 2003 at 18:02:39 PT
Dr. Russo
Thank You!
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Comment #3 posted by Ethan Russo MD on July 24, 2003 at 15:14:42 PT:
Health Canada's Guidelines are Out!
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hecs-sesc/ocma/pdf/marihuana.pdf
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Comment #2 posted by 312 on July 24, 2003 at 15:05:40 PT
Clinical cannabis in NZ!
Heard about his on the radio this morning...http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyID=3514561Medicinal cannabis step closer 25.07.2003By RUTH BERRY and REBECCA WALSHParliament's health committee is expected to recommend the medicinal use of cannabis.However, the select committee is expected to dodge the question of whether cannabis should be decriminalised but to keep the issue alive by recommending that another committee inquire into that issue. It appears likely the health committee will note that the evidence presented to it suggests moderate use of cannabis is not particularly dangerous to people's health and to recommend medicinal use of the drug be legal, if it is prescribed. If this is the tenor of the committee's report, it would be a significant step in the cannabis debate in New Zealand. Canada and the Netherlands already have laws allowing the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes. The health committee also is likely to recommend the Government look further into claims that the administration of cannabis laws discriminates against Maori. Evidence put before the committee suggested Maori were four times more likely than other people to be apprehended for cannabis use. Greater leniency for first-time possession-of-cannabis offenders, including increased use of diversion, is also expected. The long-awaited final draft of the committee report is finished and is expected to be signed off next week. After considerable deliberation, the committee is understood to be unlikely to make any recommendations for or against decriminalising cannabis. It is set, however, to recommend that the justice and electoral committee consider the issue, probably saying its own brief had been to examine the health effects of cannabis, rather than the drug's legal status. National's health spokeswoman, Dr Lynda Scott, said that if controlled trials found cannabis was a better medication for nausea or muscle relaxing it could be used in spray or tablet form. But she did not support prescription of cannabis joints. "That's just de facto decriminalisation." In May, Australian Prime Minister John Howard backed a trial of cannabis use for pain relief for the chronically ill, provided it was dispensed by a doctor and was in spray or tablet form. New Zealand Medical Association chairwoman Dr Tricia Briscoe said the association supported research into medicinal uses of cannabis, but smoking would not be an acceptable way of administering it. In April, Green MP Nandor Tanczos called for the Government to fund medical trials. United Future's confidence and supply agreement with Labour stipulates the Government should not initiate moves for the legal status of cannabis to be changed. United Future health spokeswoman Judy Turner said her party would not support any recommendation favouring cannabis use for medical purposes. The party might have a different view if drug regulation agency Medsafe sought that use. Check out the video below! (9/11). Something interesting I found perusing BBC news website
US intelligence services under fire over 11 September
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Comment #1 posted by Virgil on July 24, 2003 at 13:54:55 PT
Interesting choice of words
In terms of cannabis, the majority of offences involve possession of the drug.I wonder why they used the word offences instead of crimes. Kind of reminds me that the Uniform Crime Report for 2002 has not been released. The report for the first six months of 2003 should have been released by now if our justice department were really public servants. They are servants of the plutocracy.At least cannabis offences will be down in 2003 and you can expect alcohol consumption and the general level of mind and body pains for Canadian citizens to go down. Maybe next year the governments crimes against cannabis users will be down to zero and cannabis consumption will lift us up to where we belong.Cannabis Prohibition is sinfully WRONG.
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