cannabisnews.com: Chretien Jokes About Trying Pot Chretien Jokes About Trying Pot Posted by CN Staff on October 03, 2003 at 11:53:11 PT By The Canadian Press Source: Canadian Press Winnipeg -- Prime Minister Jean Chretien says he doesn't know what it's like to smoke pot, but he may be willing to find out once it's no longer a criminal offence. Chretien, 69, joked about trying marijuana in an Ottawa interview with the Winnipeg Free Press published in Friday's paper. On the eve of his last visit to the Manitoba capital as prime minister, Chretien was asked how it felt to have bills to decriminalize marijuana and legalize same-sex marriages as the exclamation points to his political career. "The decriminalization of marijuana is making normal what is the practice," replied Chretien. "It is still illegal, but do you think Canadians want their kids, 18 years-old or 17, who smoke marijuana once and get caught by the police, to have a criminal record for the rest of their life? "What has happened is so illogical that they are not prosecuted anymore. So let's make the law adjust to the realities. It is still illegal, but they will pay a fine. It is in synch with the times. "I don't know what is marijuana. Perhaps I will try it when it will no longer be criminal. I will have my money for my fine and a joint in the other hand." On same-sex marriage, Chretien said he thinks it is better to err on the side of giving more rights than taking away rights. But he didn't want to talk about whether that view has caused him problems as a Catholic. "My grandfather had been refused holy communion because he was a Liberal organizer," he said. "For us, my mentality, my religion belongs to me and I will deal personally with that. I am a public person in a very diverse society, and I don't think I can impose every limit of my morality on others, because I don't want others to impose their morality on me." -- Winnipeg Free PressComplete Title: Chretien Jokes About Trying Pot Once It's Decriminalized, Ready To Pay FineSource: Canadian Press Published: October 3, 2003 Copyright: 2003 The Canadian PressCannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmCannabisNews -- Canada Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/Canada.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #5 posted by Dan B on October 03, 2003 at 18:47:58 PT delariand Thanks for focusing on what may be the only significant part of this story: that government officials can and should keep their personal values separate from their laws. I am glad to see Chretien acknowledge that it can be done, and I am glad to see him show that a leader (even if he is a lame duck) can declare that cannabis is really not the big deal we have made it out to be.The sad thing about articles like this one (and similar reports on the cable news networks) is that the reporters act as though the story is that he would try cannabis. That isn't the story. The story is that in saying such, he is declaring that a national leader can disagree with the cannabis laws to such an extent that he shows favor toward the prospect of engaging in the outlawed behavior once it is no longer against the law. In other words, the story is that this is Chretien's most blatant statement that the cannabis laws in Canada are wrong. Good for him. He's correct, and the Canadian courts seem to agree with him.Now that our neighbors to the north have awakened to the notion of freedom, perhaps Americans will begin to awaken as well. Maybe they already are awakening. It can be difficult to tell from down here in Texas.Dan B [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by delariand on October 03, 2003 at 13:07:52 PT Blasphemy! The downfall of society is at hand! "'My grandfather had been refused holy communion because he was a Liberal organizer,' he said. 'For us, my mentality, my religion belongs to me and I will deal personally with that. I am a public person in a very diverse society, and I don't think I can impose every limit of my morality on others, because I don't want others to impose their morality on me.' -- Winnipeg Free Press"What what WHAT?! You mean, leaders can hold personal views, while not allowing them to cloud their judgement when they need to take into account the beliefs and needs of their entire nation?Somebody should tell Bush/Asscroft/Walters/The rest of em [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on October 03, 2003 at 12:01:29 PT escapegoat What a generous idea! I'm sure he would appreciate it too! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by escapegoat on October 03, 2003 at 11:59:59 PT So Jean wants to try pot, eh? I say we should send the PM a nice, sticky, resinous retirement present...(Product f Canada, of course!)Jean Chretien24 Sussex DriveOttawa, Ontario K1A 0A2 [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on October 03, 2003 at 11:56:12 PT CP Article This seems a little bigger then the AP article so here it is. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment