cannabisnews.com: Trudeau Thought Pot Laws Too 'Harsh'





Trudeau Thought Pot Laws Too 'Harsh'
Posted by CN Staff on September 28, 2004 at 09:02:01 PT
By Kathleen Harris, Sun Ottawa Bureau
Source: Edmonton Sun
Ottawa -- Former prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau thought Canada's penalties for potheads were "rather harsh," according to 30-year-old cabinet documents. As the current Liberal government moves to decriminalize marijuana, historic records from 1973 just released by the National Archives suggest the former PM was pushing his cabinet to relax the laws while facing stiff opposition from within his own ranks.
"The prime minister commented that the penalties recommended for first offenders for illicit possession seemed rather harsh," one document reads. "(Health Minister) Marc Lalonde reported that he had found caucus members to be rather rigid in their views and to have considered his proposals somewhat lenient." Legislation in the U.S. and U.K. carried comparably stiffer penalties at the time, according to the records. The divisive nature of the raging pot debate remains three decades later, as Prime Minister Paul Martin prepares to reintroduce a decriminalization bill that would fine those caught with a small stash of less than 15 grams. While the current proposal cracks down on growers and sellers, Trudeau's cabinet took a more sympathetic view of traffickers. "The solicitor general stated his view that the penalties for traffickers were much too high, since in most cases the traffickers were only pawns in the hands of the international dealers in drugs," one cabinet document reads. Records of the closed-door pot discussions are among scores of secret documents that offer a glimpse into how Trudeau's minority Liberal government stickhandled sensitive issues of the day. With a war in Vietnam, a controversial bilingualism policy and a crisis of soaring oil prices, Trudeau's cabinet recognized that co-operation with the opposition parties was the key to survival. "It was agreed that ministers other than the prime minister should try to maintain contacts with the New Democratic Party and indicate that some of its priorities could be met, but certainly not all of them," reads one cabinet meeting synopsis. Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB) Author:  Kathleen Harris, Sun Ottawa BureauPublished: Tuesday, September 28, 2004Copyright: 2004 Canoe Limited PartnershipContact: letters edm.sunpub.comWebsite: http://www.edmontonsun.com/Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmCannabisNews Canada Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/Canada.shtml
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on September 30, 2004 at 12:57:16 PT
News Article About Alison and Cannabis
Marijuana Against Multiple SclerosisFirst Canadian granted a pot permit Alison Myrden praises therapeutic value of cannabis 
 Oct. 3 - Oct. 10, 2004 http://www.tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=4454&page=1
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Comment #2 posted by ekim on September 28, 2004 at 09:31:21 PT
see a Leap event 
http://www.leap.cc/events/events.phpSep 28 04 Alaska Public Defenders Association's Annual Convention 06:00 PM Howard Wooldridge Anchorage Alaska USA 
 "North to Alaska" is Board Member Howard Wooldridge motto as he attends the Alaska Public Defenders Association's Annual Convention. Topic: the failure of drug prohibition. Sep 29 04 Effect of Drug Prohibition on the Family Unit 11:45 AM Peter Christ Syracuse New York USA 
 The Syracuse School of Social Work will host the "Effect of Drug Prohibition on the Family Unit" featuring Board Member Peter Christ. Sep 30 04 Speakers Series event 06:00 PM John Gayder Toronto Ontario Canada 
 John Gayder will present to Toronto East Downtown Neighbourhood Alliance (T.E.D.N.A.) and Toronto Harm Reduction Task Force Speakers Series event. 99 Dalhousie St., 1 block east of Church St. just south off Dundas St. East, 12th floor party room (buzz code 1119, fully accessible) Sep 30 04 Toronto Harm Reduction Task Force 02:15 PM John Gayder Toronto Ontario Canada 
 The Toronto Harm Reduction Task Force is pleased to announce that John Gayder will be our guest speaker at the September Speakers Series. Toronto Public Library, Sanderson Branch, Program Room, 327 Bathurst Street Sep 30 04 Anchorage South Rotary Club 12:00 PM Howard Wooldridge Anchorage Alaska USA 
 The Anchorage South Rotary Club welcomes Board Member Howard Wooldridge for lunch and discussion of alternatives to the failure of drug prohibition. 
http://www.leap.cc/events
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Comment #1 posted by Sam Adams on September 28, 2004 at 09:05:30 PT
too harsh?
Well guess what - they're still too harsh, 30 years later! Thanks to your cowardice, Trudeau. Leadership means taking risks to do what's right, not looking at the UK and US to justify doing the wrong thing. 
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