cannabisnews.com: Cellucci Assails Pot Law





Cellucci Assails Pot Law
Posted by CN Staff on November 10, 2004 at 07:40:16 PT
By Tom Blackwell, National Post 
Source: National Post 
Toronto -- The American ambassador to Canada warned yesterday that Ottawa's plan to de-criminalize marijuana would exacerbate already dire congestion problems at the U.S. border.Paul Cellucci said the bill would give the impression pot was easier to obtain in Canada, which would put U.S. Customs officers on high alert for smugglers.
The increased inspection and questioning of certain people coming into the United States would slow up crossing points already bogged down with security-related screening, he said during a meeting with the National Post's editorial board."Why, when we're trying to take pressure off the border, would Canada pass a law that would put pressure on the border?" he asked."If people think it's easier to get marijuana in Canada, then our people at the border are going to be on the lookout, and I think they will stop more vehicles, particularly vehicles driven by young people, whether they're citizens of Canada or the United States."Mr. Cellucci earlier noted that roads and other infrastructure around the busy crossings at Windsor and Niagara Falls must be upgraded to ensure the smooth flow of traffic. Current projections would call for such work to be completed by 2013. "We'll be at gridlock long before then," he said.More than $1.2-billion in trade crosses the Canada-U.S. border every day, the largest bilateral trade flow in the world. The Ontario Chamber of Commerce said in a recent study that border delays are costing the Canadian and U.S. economies $13.6-billion a year.The ambassador otherwise painted a generally positive picture of relations between the two countries. Differences over such social issues as same-sex marriage, and the hope of many Canadians that George W. Bush, the U.S. President, would lose last week's election will not undermine the solid ties, he said."Canada is a little more liberal than the United States. The United States is a little more conservative," he said. "We shouldn't be surprised that a majority of Canadians supported the liberal, as opposed to the conservative." Snipped: Complete Article: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/cellucci.htmSource: National Post (Canada)Author: Tom Blackwell, National Post Published: November 10, 2004Copyright: 2004 National Post Contact letters nationalpost.comWebsite: http://www.nationalpost.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmPot Bill Could Mean Trade Slowdownhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19783.shtmlLet's Remember Prohibition and Legalize http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19755.shtmlOttawa Revives Plan To Relax Pot Lawshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19754.shtml
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on November 11, 2004 at 08:31:35 PT
Ferre
I just checked out your web site. It is very nice and I wanted to mention it.
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Comment #6 posted by Ferre on November 11, 2004 at 08:10:05 PT
Some respect would be nice
It's about time the US government starts minding their own busyness. They should learn to have some more respect for how other countries handle their laws. 
Cannabis - THC - Ministry Amsterdam
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Comment #5 posted by john wayne on November 10, 2004 at 13:34:37 PT
All our problems come from Canada
Yes, the pure citizens of the US would be ever so corrupted by tiny steps towards cannabis decrim in Canada. Our pure, innocent youth would be led to the (gasp) dark side by those evil scheming Canadians and their devilish plans to subvert our xtian purity with their devil weed. We must take a stand! How long can these dirty Canucks soil our virgin grace without a firm and final answer? How long must our valiant soldiers hold their cleansing fire from the evil, doper Canadians? How long, oh lord?
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Comment #4 posted by trekkie on November 10, 2004 at 10:57:03 PT
Too right, dongenero,
As a Montanan, I was pleasantly surprised that this red, Red, RED state passed the MMJ bill. I also work for a company that is STRONGLY Republican (the owner lavishes vast amounts of money to Republican candidates and issues, and another guy here is a member of the John Birch Society). Everyone I talked to at work supported the MMJ bill, even the John Birch member!! 
It truly is a bi-partisan issue ,especially when the issues of tax incentives for legalization, and decreased court burdens for simple possesion cases are tossed into the conversation.
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Comment #3 posted by dididadadidit on November 10, 2004 at 08:32:49 PT
Border Threats Are Hollow
I would certainly hope the Canadians don't buy in to the threats to close the border or in any way restrict trade as they consider operating in their own national interest. The U.S. is in no position to threaten Canada over common sense cannabis legislation (or gay marriage or anything else) when the users of 20 million barrels of oil a day get 10% (2 million barrels a day) of it from Canada, to say nothing of natural gas imports.If the U.S. threatens to tie up the border over Canada acting as an independent country, all they need to do is shut off the energy flow for a day (hour?) or two to bring "uncle" to his senses. A good backup insurance policy for Canada would be to field its own nuclear weapons to keep the aggressive "uncle" south of the border where he belongs.Go Canada.Cheers?
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Comment #2 posted by Craiig on November 10, 2004 at 08:30:01 PT
Sounds just like Ashcroft
"If people think it's easier to get marijuana in Canada, then our people at the border are going to be on the lookout, and I think they will stop more vehicles, particularly vehicles driven by young people, whether they're citizens of Canada or the United States."Why not just come out and say "We will not tollerate Canada's policy on cannabis and we'll make them pay for not complying with our rules"Although the decrim bill isn't good as it penalises growers more. Totally stupid and very dissapointing.
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Comment #1 posted by dongenero on November 10, 2004 at 08:18:20 PT
marijuana+liberal=myth
The concept that relaxing marijauna laws is a liberal issue is a myth.
Just look at Montana. It is a traditionally conservative state and indeed voted clearly for Bush. However, more people there voted for medical marijauna than voted for Bush. This indicated, obviuously, that there is a broad demographic appeal to relaxing marijauna laws. Additionally, in Montana, the margin of vote for med. marijauna was similar to the margin opposing gay marriage. Clearly, many conservatives are on the side of relaxed marijuana laws.As for Canada's decrim plan, the U.S. has many states with more liberal policies towards marijuana than what Canada is considering.Yet, the U.S. huffs and puffs about Canadian policy. Why Canada doesn't go on record publicly to point out the U.S. laws in areas that have decrim....I don't know.
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