cannabisnews.com: Canada and OAS Must Reject Trend To Legalize Drugs





Canada and OAS Must Reject Trend To Legalize Drugs
Posted by CN Staff on November 17, 2003 at 12:44:26 PT
By The Canadian Press 
Source: Canadian Press 
Montreal -- Canada and other members of the Organization of American States must reject the trend to legalize drugs in order to better fight drug abuse, trafficking and organized crime, Mexico's attorney general warned Monday.But Canada's Solicitor General Wayne Easter insisted the federal government's plans to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana aren't contrary to Canada's participation in an international drug abuse control commission meeting this week in Montreal.
Easter was responding to an opening address by Rafael Macedo de la Concha, Mexico's attorney general and outgoing chairman of the OAS Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission.Macedo de la Concha said the organization has to be continuously strengthened to be effective."Rejecting drug trafficking and preventing drug consumption without allowing its legal or controlled consumption is a form to do that," Macedo de la Concha said in a translated copy of his speech in Spanish.He added the "increased social acceptance" of drugs must also be curbed.Canada's proposed bill would decriminalize marijuana for small-time users caught with less than 15 grams by giving fines of $100 to $400. At the other end, there would be an array of penalties to counter an escalation in marijuana-grow houses run by organized crime, with the maximum sentence being doubled to 14 years.The bill technically died when Parliament shut down earlier this month, but it is expected to be reintroduced and perhaps amended at a later date.Easter denied the proposed bill decriminalizes pot or makes it socially acceptable."We've recognized we do have a problem with marijuana in this country and the current laws are not working, the current penalties are not uniform across the country," Easter told reporters after the opening session."So what we've decided to do with the National Drug Strategy is take a more comprehensive approach using enforcement, increased penalties for grow operations, using drug prevention methods and going out on an education campaign to inform the youth that marijuana is harmful and it is not a social thing to do to take drugs."Paul Kennedy, senior assistant deputy solicitor general, was elected chair of the commission at the meeting.Kennedy said the main theme of Canada's one-year chairmanship will be cross-border co-operation, specifically improved drug control at borders.Complete Title: Canada and OAS Must Reject Trend To Legalize Drugs: Montreal ConferenceSource: Canadian Press Published: Monday, November 17, 2003Copyright: 2003 The Canadian PressCannabisNews -- Canada Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/Canada.shtml
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on November 18, 2003 at 08:45:52 PT
News Article from Snipped Source
SGI Claim Made for Missing Marijuana
 
Jana G. Pruden, Leader-Post Tuesday, November 18, 2003 
 
 
With legal marijuana use taking root around the country, insurance companies may be left holding the bag for the cost of replacing a lost or stolen stash. Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) confirmed that it has received a claim for a supply of medical marijuana stolen from the house of a Regina resident. The claim may be the first of its kind at Saskatchewan's provincial insurance agency since new rules governing the use and availability of medical marijuana in the country came into effect last summer. "If you have home insurance and it's a medical supply, there would be coverage," said SGI spokesperson Earl Cameron, who could not comment specifically on the Regina claim, but spoke generally on SGI's policies regarding the possession of medical marijuana. "It's no different than prescription drugs. Legal property is covered and illegal property is not."Last July, Health Canada announced it would sell dried marijuana and cannabis seeds to licensed medical users, at a price much lower than what the drug sells for on the street. The approved users, who now number about 600 around the country, face a number of restrictions and must get their marijuana or seeds from Health Canada.The replacement cost, and whether the claimant would be paid out in cash or with replacement marijuana, would depend on the individual's insurance policy and what kind of settlement was reached, Cameron said. As with all marijuana for medical use, the replacement drugs would have to be bought through Health Canada. Dave MacLean, provincial director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, says his organization takes no issue with the provincial insurance agency covering a licensed user's supply.Snipped:Complete Article: http://canada.com/national/story.asp?id=EE35DA40-C216-42CB-816F-9247C612A187
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Comment #13 posted by MikeEEEEE on November 17, 2003 at 18:37:38 PT
E_Johnson 
"If people are sheep then there really is no point at all to what we are doing."If your point is true then I guess if idiots elected Bush then idiots will elect him again. Even the sheep are capable of learning. That's why I hope things will change. Once in a while they wake up, then more awaken, then more to the truth. We're fighting lies. Once the truth is digested, perhaps the herd will follow.We won't win if we give up. Right now we're winning, but slowly. 
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Comment #12 posted by Virgil on November 17, 2003 at 18:03:22 PT
Turmel & TorontoNow
I enjoy reading Turmel's writing at medpot when he takes and article and comments all the way through it. He takes this article at http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/current/news_story5_p.html and comments on it at his last posting at medpot on yahoogroups- http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/MedPot/message/1043 In message 1042 he introduced a new expression that I enjoyed in dissecting a press release of November 7. People lie and lawyers do "lawying." Turmel has his critics to say the least, but his use of the term "laughing grass" is a serious contribution to the cause. I am thankful that I keep up with medpot just for finding that term. But in 1042, Turmel speaks to the concern of MADD in Canada of driving while enhanced. He says all the cops have to do is pull people over that are driving a little under the speed limit. It is interesting to think if that is probable cause because of the underlying truth.Good perspective spreads as good ideas surface. If NORML ever does a commercial with Walters on the left saying "Marijuana is a dangerous drug" and on the right a scene of a young man or woman poking fun of the Drug Bizarre by saying "Laughing grass is a dangerous drug- how funny is that?", its origin may have been from Turmel.If DWE- driving while enhanced, ever makes it to a commercial that may be from Virgil at cannabisnews. Virgil is not enhanced by laughing grass at this time and is quite pissed at those who would arrest people for enhancing life with laughing grass. I am for victory by embarassment. Well, I am for victory and better soups.
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Comment #11 posted by global_warming on November 17, 2003 at 16:36:15 PT
The Hall Of Shame
"He added the "increased social acceptance" of drugs must also be curbed."Mexico's attorney general Macedo de la Concha has been coopted by the gangsters that seek to continue this bloodletting from the people, this prohibition, this "international" diservice, this belief that is funded by the pharmos and federales, who need this mindset, to keep their jobs, the jobs that apply the lashes to our backs, drawing blood to remind us, that death is the reward, to all who lift their heads, to get a better view,..The currents that build empires, tremble at the thought, that the sheep,..(My regards to the Smith Family, (maybe he was an anti)) might somehow become aware and seek some equal share in the garden.He ignores the reasons why drug use is on the rise, he is unsetteled, and with common retort, parrots the voices of his masters,..Drug abuse, only delays the final moments, for even the the most wealthy, share with us, that moment, as we depart into the Night,..The wealthy have the power of money, their kingdoms are built upon our fears..each life tormented, will mark the depth of the anguish, that all userpers of the faith shall suffer..It is getting late, and the seeds shall divide, as the flowers of this world blossom, so shall the fruits be revealed..Prepare..
gw
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Comment #10 posted by Jose Melendez on November 17, 2003 at 15:22:59 PT
Sheep kill.
"If people are sheep then there really is no point at all to what we are doing."from:http://www.urbanreflex.com/sheepkills.html
  In a sinister development in the foot and mouth crisis, a human was attacked and 
killed by a sheep on Friday night in what police are describing as a possible 
revenge attack. It is feared the killing may signal the beginning of an orchestrated 
campaign of resistance by Britain's ovine community, which is currently being 
mass-slaughtered. The human, Daniel Smith, 23, a car mechanic from Heaton, was walking through 
Newcastle city centre when the sheep, which had apparently been laying in wait 
behind a row of parked cars, ambushed him. Footage from CCTV cameras clearly 
shows the sheep kicking and stamping on Mr. Smith before running away. Police 
and paramedics arrived shortly afterwards but Mr. Smith was pronounced 
dead at the scene. 
Sheep Kills Human In Suspected Revenge Attack 
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Comment #9 posted by Jose Melendez on November 17, 2003 at 15:17:39 PT
Macedo: Got human rights?
from:http://www.drugwar.com/pasaoncolombia.shtmMaking his first trip to Mexico since taking         over the DEA in August, Hutchinson praised the administration         of President Vicente Fox (news - web sites) and Attorney General         Rafael Macedo de la Concha. He singled out efforts to root out         corruption and improve training of anti-narcotics agents.        Yet despite a series of major seizures over         the past year, Hutchinson conceded there was no sign that the         supply, price or quality of illegal drugs reaching the United         States had been affected. also, from:http://www.narconews.com/mextransition3.htmlMacedo's appointment has been    criticized universally by human rights organizations for his    persecution of General José Francisco Gallardo (whose    crime was to write a report calling for the designation of a    public ombudsman for the armed forces) and brutal treatment of    other dissenting voices. (General Gallardo, interviewed on Macedo's    appointment from his military prison, told El Universal,    "If Fox wants to bring about the end the PGR, then his decision    was the right one.")from:http://www.amnestyusa.org/justearth/newsletter/v3no1.pdf1) Demand a prompt, full, and impartial investiga-tion into the torture of Rodolfo Montiel and TeodoroCabrera by the Mexican military. Ask that thoseresponsible be brought to justice. 2) Ask that the innocence of the two men and thearbitrary nature of their detention be recognized andthat they receive due compensation for the injus-tices they suffered. 3) Urge that the safety of two men, as well as thatof other campesino environmentalists, be ensured. 4) Insist that the Mexican authorities conduct aprompt, thorough, and impartial investigation into the killing of Digna Ochoa, and that thoseresponsible be brought to justice. Express your con-cern for the safety of members of PRODH and otherhuman rights defenders and urge the authorities toadopt the necessary protection measures.5) Demand a prompt, full, and impartial investiga-tion into the disappearance of Maximino MarcialJaimes and the extra-judicial execution of SalomĂ©Sánchez Ortiz. 
SEND APPEALS TO:President of the RepublicLic. Vicente Fox QuesadaPresidente de los Estados Unidos MexicanosPalcio Nacional, Patio de HonorPrimer piso, Col. CentroMexico D.F., C.P. 06067MexicoFax: (+52 5) 515 1794 / 515 5729 / 277 2376Attorney General of the Republic:General Rafael Marcial Macedo de la ConchaProcurador General de la RepublicaProcuraduria General de la RepublicaReforma Norte esq. Violeta 75Col. GuerreroDelegacion CuauhtemocMexico D.F., C.P. 06300MexicoTelegrams: Attorney General of the Republic, Mexico D.F.,MexicoFax: (011 525 55) 346 0983 / 626 4419 / 346 0906Salutation: Senor Procurador General / Dear Attorney GeneralSEND COPIES OF YOUR LETTERS TO:Centro de Derechos Humanos Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez�Serapio Rendón 57-B, Col. San RafaelMéxico DF, CP 06470, Mexicofrom:http://www.wola.org/publications/ddhr_mexico_brief.pdfWhen President Zedillo created the PFP in 1999, about half of the original agents wereon loan from the military police. Using the military was supposed to be a temporarysolution, according to government officials, until enough new civilian agents wereselected and trained. Under Fox, however, the number of soldiers within the PFP hasactually increased. Between September 2001 and June 2002, the PFP witnessed atwenty-five percent increase in its ranks thanks to the addition of 1,700 newly hiredagents and the incorporation of 826 new recruits for the Federal Support Forces(Fuerzas Federales de Apoyo, FFA) which are composed entirely of military police andmembers of the navy. Whole army units were transferred to the FFA to make a currenttotal of eight, including the Third Military Police Brigade and the Tenth MilitaryPolice Battalion, and 1,600 members of several navy battalions were also added to thePFP. 
10 
 Top positions in the PFP are also held by military officers: The FFA is led by ageneral, and the PFP as a whole is led by a retired brigadier general.The expansion of the military’s presence in the federal justice administration apparatuswas reinforced with Fox’s appointment of Gen. Rafael Macedo de la Concha asattorney general, marking the first time a military officer was chosen to direct the PGR.He brought a number of military officers with him into the PGR who were given toppositions in counternarcotics and intelligence divisions. Brig. Gen. Demetrio GaytanOchoa was named anti-drug operations coordinator, responsible for detecting anddestroying marijuana and poppy plants. Gaytan was later replaced(snip)see also:http://www.customscorruption.com/archive_page_one.htmand from:http://www.americaspolicy.org/citizen-action/focus/0304dirtywar_body.htmlObservers claim that PGR head Gen. Rafael Macedo de la Concha turned over to the military evidence AFADEM gathered about Acosta Chaparro, undermining a possible civilian justice process.from:http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/PDH/sMacedoBio.html Rafael Macedo of the Shell 
 General solicitor of Justice    He has a vast one and recognized experience in the field of justice power of attorney. He has been the Legal Advisor of the Federal Executive authority and Assistant director of Legal Consultant's office of the Presidency of the Republic; Assistant director of Legal and Fiduciary Department of the National Bank of Army, Navy and Air Force, as well as Judge and First Magistrate of the Supreme Military court. He represented the Government of Mexico and the Secretariat of the National defense before the Department of State of the United States in subjects related to the traffic of arms and drugs. Also he has represented the referred Secretariat before the Intersecretarial Meeting responsible for guarding by the international commitments of Mexico in the matter of Human rights. Its performance shiningly like General Solicitor of Legal Military justice and Advisory of the SEDENA. He was Partner-political and economic professor of Mexican Positive Right, Problems of Mexico and Derecho Consitutional in the UNAM and the Latin American University where also it held the position of Director of the Race of Right. Lecturer of international stature, has received several decorations and recognitions of the Government of Mexico. Graduated as the Heroic Military School, its present rank is the one of Brigadier of Military justice. Also It is licensed in Right by the UNAM.(Some documents translated by google.)from:http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/09/20010905-6.htmlU.S., Mexican Cabinet Officials Hold Press Conference 
 REMARKS BY ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT,
 MEXICAN ATTORNEY GENERAL MACEDO DE LA CONCHA,
 SECRETARY OF EDUCATION PAIGE,
 EPA ADMINISTRATOR WHITMAN,
 COMMISSIONER FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT SARUKHAN
 
 
 
 Stakeout Area
 West Portico 12:55 P.M. EDT       ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT:  The relationship which the Presidents of the United States and Mexico began, on a high level and on a personal level earlier this year, are bearing fruit in the development of a wide variety of areas of cooperation between Cabinet members and Cabinet-level officials across our government.       In particular, I'm delighted today to be joined by Attorney General Macedo de la Concha of Mexico, with whom we've had a very substantial set of meetings over the past seven months, and with whom our cooperation is significant.       The concept of shared responsibility, which is a concept promoted by Presidents Fox and Bush, is one which is being translated into policy not only on the border, as I have a responsibility through the INS and border patrol, but in our cooperation on law enforcement areas generally, and this idea of shared responsibilities reflected in the cooperation between the Cabinet agencies.       I'm delighted to report that at no time in the history of Mexico has our relationship been stronger and does the cooperation which we have reached been more thorough.  Yesterday we signed an agreement relating to sharing seized assets that are confiscated when criminal apprehensions are made.  We have previously worked together for items such as making sure that we respect the dignity and humanity of individuals that are involved on our borders, the new BORSTAR teams, the border rescue search and trauma teams that have been created by our border patrol have been the subject of our discussions, as well as the use of non-lethal force on the border, which has been a suggestion by our Mexican friends and which has resulted in better and improved performance in terms of our own efforts.       So I want to say how pleased I am to have the opportunity of being a part of this high level of cooperation, this friendship that is developing, based on trust that results in mutual achievements.       It's my pleasure now to yield the opportunity to speak to the Attorney General of Mexico, Macedo de la Concha.       ATTORNEY GENERAL MACEDO:  (Statement made in Spanish.) see also:http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2001/May/225ag.htm
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Comment #8 posted by E_Johnson on November 17, 2003 at 15:06:38 PT
Something I don't understand
MikeEEEE, if you think of people as sheep, then why do you care what happens to them?If people are sheep then there really is no point at all to what we are doing.
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Comment #7 posted by MikeEEEEE on November 17, 2003 at 14:27:32 PT
bongman
It's about control, and fear is used to manipulate the sheep.Another observation: the war on the personal use of cigarettes.While tons of toxins are put into the air by cars and industry, there's a war on the personal use of cigarettes. But it has the governments liking.The government should butt out of other peoples business, Iraq, personal use, etc.We come into the world with risk, we can't stop that risk by laws against freedom. Fear scares the sheep about the risk, the sheep want protection, then freedoms may be lost.
The formula seems simple, but the sheep are sheep, and are herded into belief.Perhaps one day they'll wake up. I always hope.
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Comment #6 posted by Jose Melendez on November 17, 2003 at 14:26:31 PT
Green. Salsa. Banned?
Yet another reason to grow your own:http://news.google.com/news?q=green+onion+hepatitis&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wn
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Comment #5 posted by BlakNo1 on November 17, 2003 at 14:18:37 PT:
yeah right
Oh yeah, that John Walters, he's a liberal firebrand he is!Please.....
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Comment #4 posted by lombar on November 17, 2003 at 14:09:16 PT
Time for a change eh?
"So what we've decided to do with the National Drug Strategy is take a more comprehensive approach using enforcement, increased penalties for grow operations, using drug prevention methods and going out on an education campaign to inform the youth that marijuana is harmful and it is not a social thing to do to take drugs."Unless you go to a bar or want an erection. In the meantime, ADULT cannabis consumers must continue to face blatant discrimination. It's time to toss you Liberals out...
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Comment #3 posted by bongman439 on November 17, 2003 at 14:02:28 PT
Good one MikeEEEEE. You also notice that.. 
..the admitted side effects for these "accepted" drugs are scary as hell.  So what if the latest happy pill causes internal bleeding, and other dire ailments, it's got the governments seal of approval.
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Comment #2 posted by Virgil on November 17, 2003 at 13:45:33 PT
Mexican puppet with an American voice
Macedo de la Concha said the organization has to be continuously strengthened to be effective.More bullshit. Nobody in government gives a damn about substance abuse, the human condition, or good government. It's Nazi time, have a beer and deal with it. On with failure the Mexican says. Come on out and say what we need to do is make jail cells smaller- 5 feet high and 7 feet square. Show some toughness and say it with conviction and repetition. Be sure and do the repetition because most people have tuned out of this bullshit. We get it. We are batteries and the machine belongs to the Nazis. Now get out there and pollute and sell some pills to the sick. Oh hell, just go ahead and unleash your new virus and make people pay or die. Who needs peasants now that nanotechnology has arrived and the computer age has matured.Fox is a failed president just like Bu$h. Dean isn't the biggest fundraiser in the Democratic Party for nothing. The Nazis recognize they need a figurehead that can at least talk and not say suicider and unsticker and "We need an energy policy that encourages consumption." But they learned with enough money and media they can get a failure as a person, businessman, and politician elected. Even the business community realizes this dive to the bottom with massive waste, fraud and debt is not in their best interest so that get a fiscal manager that can at least talk that will not rock the boat. We must keep the price high. That is what prohibition is about. My money is more important than your freedom. I get it. Heil greedy bastards.
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Comment #1 posted by MikeEEEEE on November 17, 2003 at 13:27:58 PT
Funny isn't it...
"He added the "increased social acceptance" of drugs must also be curbed."Whenever I watch TV, at least 2 out of the 5 commercials is an ad for drugs.
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