cannabisnews.com: Paul Martin Promises Pot Decriminalization Paul Martin Promises Pot Decriminalization Posted by CN Staff on June 04, 2004 at 09:00:55 PT By Alexander Panetta, Canadian Press Source: Canadian Press Halifax -- The Liberals are committed to carrying out their plan to decriminalize marijuana if re-elected, Prime Minister Paul Martin said Friday in the playground of a day-care centre. Martin was responding to a question about whether a Liberal government would reintroduce a law to hand out fines - not criminal sentences - to people caught with 15 grams of pot or less. The legislation died last month when Parliament was dissolved for the federal election campaign. "I will bring back the legislation that died on the order paper," Martin replied during a news conference outside the day care where he spent part of the morning reading to toddlers. Still standing in the playground, the prime minister replied with a joke when asked another inevitable campaign question about marijuana, and alluded to former U.S. president Bill Clinton's claim that he never inhaled. "Did I smoke it? No. Therefore I didn't inhale. But there is a rumour going around that I've eaten brownies." The prime minister has previously told the story of how in the 1960s his wife, Sheila, once baked them both a batch of strange tasting brownies. Martin was less willing to talk about the sponsorship scandal, and whether he feels the inner circle of former prime minister Jean Chretien orchestrated the alleged fraud in the $250-million program. A report on Friday quoted Public Works Minister Stephen Owen saying there was political involvement at the highest levels and warning that civil suits could be filed against former government officials. The comments added yet another twist to an ever-evolving government explanation for the scandal. Martin said in February it was politically orchestrated, then said he wasn't sure. Now he is unwilling to comment with a pending judicial inquiry into the exorbitant government contracts steered to Liberal-friendly ad firms. The prime minister said the election campaign is about more than scandals of the past and suggested Owen's remarks were misinterpreted. "I think the election is really a decision of values of the different parties - that's what I want and what I think Canadians want," he said in French. "Canadians want to look forward and when it comes to values my values are health care, day care, how do we build a just society," he added, echoing Pierre Trudeau's famous "Just Society" slogan from the 1968 election. He accused Harper of betraying those values with his willingess to use the Constitution's notwithstanding clause to override Trudeau's Charter of Rights and Freedoms on issues like abortion and same-sex marriage. "It's a clear indication of the gulf that exists between Mr. Harper and myself." Martin visited the day care after attending a festive event celebrating the re-opening of a local oceanside park ravaged last year by Hurricane Juan. The government has promised $5 billion to create a national public child-care program. Complete Title: Paul Martin Promises Pot Decriminalization When Pressed on IssueSource: Canadian PressAuthor: Alexander Panetta, Canadian Press Published: Friday, June 04, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Canadian PressRelated Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmCanadian PM Says Backs Marijuana Decrimhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18858.shtmlMartin Rehashes Pot Billhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18004.shtmlCannabisNews Canada Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/Canada.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #9 posted by Hope on June 04, 2004 at 17:59:55 PT Cannabis Enthusiast I'm so happy it's gone well for you. Getting off of some of those antidepressants can be harrowing, from what I've read. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by global_warming on June 04, 2004 at 16:11:25 PT Go Canada "The Liberals are committed to carrying out their plan to decriminalize marijuana if re-elected, Prime Minister Paul Martin said..."When is this election going to occur? I will be listening for the sounds of war drums the antis will be banging, along with the cries and fears of the destruction of western civilization.Perhaps Uncle has to many irons in the fire with an election in November, and with the POLLS showing a distinct drop in tempereture, who knows, maybe they will be so busy with damage control right here in River City, that they will not have enough time to look up North?SideNote: Has anyone ever tried smoking the wild strawberry leaf, they are abundant here in my neck of the woods, the leaves have a similar jagged cut??Imagine if we ever found another common plant that acted similar to the blessed cannabis plant,.. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on June 04, 2004 at 13:56:06 PT Cannabis Enthusiast It's good to read you are doing ok. It's not easy to quit doing drugs. I wish you the best of luck. I haven't used any drugs or any alcohol since 94. It can be done! [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Cannabis Enthusiast on June 04, 2004 at 13:02:15 PT: I am doing great without pharmaceutical drugs! As some of you may know, I quit Effexor XR (225 mg per day) and Risperdal (2 mg at bedtime) a little over a month ago.I am happy to say that I am doing fantastic! I even have a job (albeit a very crappy one, but Im looking for something better). I don't feel depressed, I sleep absolutely perfect (I no longer use caffeine nor alcohol).The only thing that's missing now is a little cannabis once in awhile. Hopefully I'll get a sac-o-buds soon, it's been a long long time since I've gotten high! Mental Health news (yahoo!) [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by kaptinemo on June 04, 2004 at 09:51:30 PT: How stupid does Mr. Martin think his fellow Canadians to be? The Liberals had all the chances to change things for the better, and came up instead with an atrocious bill. Given the fact that during that Liberal legislators ran like the little piggies who went to market (wee-wee-wee!) to "War"shington to get Johnny Pee's stamp of approval EVEN BEFORE THEIR OWN LEGISLATORS KNEW ABOUT IT - *and* to have "War"shington pressure their own government to work against Canadian interests, says all that needs to be said.So, now...they insult the intelligence of the Canadian electorate yet again, hoping that the rotten carrot they offered once before can be dangled again in front of Canadian cannabists? They should ask Georgie Deux about that saying he had so much trouble with. You know: the one about being fooled more than once? [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by E_Johnson on June 04, 2004 at 09:31:15 PT Oops I should say Burt Bacharach Since he wrote the song, she just sung it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by E_Johnson on June 04, 2004 at 09:23:58 PT Here's what Dionne Warwick had to say Promises, promisesI'm all through with promises, promises nowI don't know how I got the nerve to walk outIf I shout, remember I feel freeNow I can look at myself and be proudI'm laughing out loudOh, promises, promisesThis is where those promises, promises endI don't pretend that what was wrong can be rightEvery night I sleep now, no more liesThings that I promised myself fell apartBut I found my heartOh, promises, their kind of promises, can just destroy a lifeOh, promises, those kind of promises, take all the joy from lifeOh, promises, promises, my kind of promisesCan lead to joy and hope and loveYes, love! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Truth on June 04, 2004 at 09:06:09 PT off subject Here's a good article in the San Francisco Chronic about kids and mood enhancers.http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/morford/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on June 04, 2004 at 09:04:55 PT How Would Decriminalized Pot Be Made Available? Decrim means we will tolerate you and Cannabis and that's it. That is not enough. Those days are gone.We had a saying years ago and that's what came to mind when I was setting this CP article to post.Liar Liar pants on fire. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment