US rips Canada plan to ease marijuana laws

[dutchdemocrat]

Two simple words. FUCK YOU


http://www.marijuanaparty.org/


http://www.bcmarijuanaparty.ca/


US rips Canada plan to ease marijuana laws
By Pablo Bachelet, Reuters, 10/10/2003

WASHINGTON -- John Walters, the White House's top drug policymaker, said yesterday Canada was a blemish in an otherwise successful effort by the United States to cut back illegal drug production in the Western Hemisphere.

"It is the one place in the hemisphere where things are going the wrong way," said Walters, the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. He has been an outspoken critic of a proposed Canadian law to ease penalties for marijuana possession.

Walters told a Washington think tank that Canadians who have privately expressed concerns with the policies of Prime Minister Jean Chretien should make their objections public.

His statement came as Parliament was beginning debate on a bill introduced by the Chretien government that would end criminal penalties for possessing about half an ounce of marijuana.

SNIP

http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2003/10/10/us_rips_canada_plan_to_ease_marijuana_laws/

Canadians have fought long and hard to save their justice system billions of dollars in wasted money on busting people for marijuana. Bushco... Leave them alone!


A snapshot of the movement.



http://cannabislink.ca/

[thebigidea]

1. coming from the evil bastard who wants to examine schoolkid urine

"John Walters, the White House's top drug policymaker, said yesterday Canada was a blemish in an otherwise successful effort by the United States to cut back illegal drug production in the Western Hemisphere."

awwww, poor Johnny... a BLEMISH.

Sorry, Johnny - that's the way democracy works.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

17. riiiiiight

yeah, Johnny, sure you successfully cut back coca production in Colombia. Riiiight.

And a bang-up job he's doing on methamphetamine production in the southwest, and the terrible social ills it brings. And oxycontin (oh wait, that's not an illegal drug) in Appalachia and Rush Limbaugh, and the ills it brings.

Come to think of it, had nobody interved - perhaps oxycontin would have killed Rush Limbaugh - damn - if we made it over the counter maybe it would finish him off.

[youngred]

2. Be strong Canada

Ashcroft, Bush et al. SOD OFF

[Darth_Kitten]

3. Yeah....

like, keep your eyes on your own paper. ;) :evilgrin:

[SlavesandBulldozers]

6. The Dawn of the Canadian Century

As America slopes off into paranaoid fundamentalism, its Northern Neighbor once again proves itself more illuminated and rational. While the mullahs of America ponder ways to further strangle the already lifeless Bill of RIghts - Canada is becoming MORE FREE.

I'm so tired of the moralists in this country who have learned nothing of this nation's dismal experiment in alcohol prohibition, and thus have repeated history though it stares them right in the eye.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

4. why? didn't Alaska just decriminalize marijuani ...can have small amounts

and smoke in your own home...pot to keetle...and it is NONE of our gov'ts biddness imho

[DBoon]

18. I think they had to repeal

Due to pressure from the Federal government. Can't allow dissenting policies at the state level, you know.

[pandatimothy]

5. This is coming from both parties

I get into arguments sometimes with fellow Dems over drug legalization.

I support legalizing drugs of course.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

10. Dems

nobody touches legalization. Notice how our current Democratic contendors avoid it, notice how the press never brings it up.

It's the Taboo topic of our time, because of the ignorance of moralism and fundamentalism. For better part of a century the Religious Right has associated drugs with the Devil, even though retirees pop pharmaceuticals like candy to keep themselves alive.

I really shouldn't get started. But prohibition, to me, is such a senseless cowardly thing that has such a destructive force on the fabric of our society that if we were to legalize even just MJ we would see what a truly ignorant, evil, set of laws these were and how we may never recover from the damage already inflicted on society.

[dutchdemocrat]

16. Canada are the little mice in the attic building an espresso machine

It's not just the weather that's cooler in Canada

You live next door to a clean-cut, quiet guy. He never plays loud music or throws raucous parties. He doesn't gossip over the fence, just smiles politely and offers you some tomatoes. His lawn is cared-for, his house is neat as a pin and you get the feeling he doesn't always lock his front door. He wears Dockers. You hardly know he's there.

And then one day you discover that he has pot in his basement, spends his weekends at peace marches and that guy you've seen mowing the yard is his spouse.

Allow me to introduce Canada.

The Canadians are so quiet that you may have forgotten they're up there, but they've been busy doing some surprising things. It's like discovering that the mice you are dimly aware of in your attic have been building an espresso machine.

Did you realize, for example, that our reliable little tag-along brother never joined the Coalition of the Willing? Canada wasn't willing, as it turns out, to join the fun in Iraq. I can only assume American diner menus weren't angrily changed to include "freedom bacon," because nobody here eats the stuff anyway.

And then there's the wild drug situation: Canadian doctors are authorized to dispense medical marijuana. Parliament is considering legislation that would not exactly legalize marijuana possession, as you may have heard, but would reduce the penalty for possession of under 15 grams to a fine, like a speeding ticket. This is to allow law enforcement to concentrate resources on traffickers; if your garden is full of wasps, it's smarter to go for the nest rather than trying to swat every individual bug. Or, in the United States, bong.

SNIP

Canadians are, as a nation, less religious than we are, according to polls. As a result, Canada's government isn't influenced by large, well-organized religious groups and thus has more in common with those of Scandinavia than those of the United States, or, say, Iran.

SNIP

http://www.post-gazette.com/columnists/20030730sam0730p1.asp

[dutchdemocrat]

20. Canada is not legalizing at this point

They are 'decriminalizing'. Two different things. They will just give a 'speeding ticket' if you get caught with less than 15 grams, which allows law inenforcement to focus on the hive, not the bees. That's the justification.

Does that make sense?

I have read the laws in Texas concerning small amounts of Marijuana are atrocious. Slave labor for the prisons I suppose.

[dutchdemocrat]

7. BC Marijuana Party

BC MARIJUANA PARTY

52,000 people or 4 per cent of the voters cast their marks on the ballot for this party (first run) in BC's last election. The party had candidates in every riding (60-70?) in the province.

Here is there platform. Radical? Hell yea!

PLATFORM OF THE BC MARIJUANA PARTY OF BC

Preamble
The BC Marijuana Party recognizes the supremacy of the individual over the state. We believe that this condition is best protected by each individuals’ right to in life, liberty, and property. We further purport the principle of self-ownership. This right guarantees individuals full control over their bodies. This means that each individual has the right to decide what does, and does not, enter their bodies. And, accordingly, each individual is responsible for their bodies and those substances they choose to put in their bodies.



Justice
n We favour responsible community policing.

n We back the creation of independent police commissions – province-wide – that will hold police to the highest ethical standards.

o The police exist to serve citizens; they should be held to higher standards than average citizens to make sure that that is the case.

n We favour the creation a provincial police force, effectively removing the RCMP from British Columbia.

n We support the re-prioritization of police resources based on demonstrable harm to others.

o This means offences like murder, rape, robbery, and property crime will be made top priorities while non-harmful offences like marijuana production, sale, and possession will largely be ignored.

n We propose that the Attorney General of BC remove provincial funding for enforcement and prosecution of marijuana offences.

n We propose an end to sovereign immunity for police and government officials.

o Police and government officials will be tried for criminal offences like everyone else.

n We support the concept of “Restorative Justice” being introduced as an alternative for victims of crime to pursue satisfaction and resolution of conflicts.



Government
n We will implement a system of proportional representation in the British Columbia legislature

o To do this we will take the current 79 BC ridings and re-draw them along the lines of the 34 federal ridings that currently exist in BC.

o Then we would add another 34 seats, awarded according to the “favourite party” vote, for a total of 68 seats, 11 less than the current 79. That means 11 less politicians with expensive salaries and pensions. The new seats would represent roughly 2% of the popular vote.

n We support the creation of a viable ballot initiative system in BC, which would allow for more grassroots participation and direct democracy



Constitutional
n We will begin a campaign to entrench private property rights in Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms

o This will strengthen the Charter by protecting individuals against abuses like property search and seizure



Women and Family
n Petition the federal government to legalize prostitution by creating a regulatory framework for licensing brothels.

o This will have the effect of reducing unsafe street prostitution by making the sex trade industry legitimate and safe – by giving it protection under the law.

n Reallocate police resources towards fighting rape, murder, and other crimes that effect women, while making prostitution a low enforcement priority

n We would end the policy that sees children seized from parents who grow marijuana



Fiscal Policy
n We oppose the introduction of any new taxes.

o Ending the War on Marijuana will save millions in government spending, which will be returned to BC taxpayers in the form of tax cuts.

n The provincial government should not ban people from spending their money as they choose, which includes gambling at regulated casinos.

n End the ICBC monopoly on car insurance.



Labour Policy
n We will suspend or repeal all regulations that work to limit the ability of the private sector to compete with government-regulated monopolies should public sector employees chose to exercise their right to strike.

o The BCMP supports the right of labour unions to strike, however when public service monopolies strike the public should have choice.

o Therefore we support private competition during a strike by any public service monopoly.

o If the doctors strike we support private healthcare delivery by accredited physicians.



Firearms Policy
n We strongly oppose Ottawa’s Gun Registry.

n Under a BC Marijuana Party government the Attorney General of BC would not prosecute or lay charges relating to the non-registration of firearms.

n We would actively lobby Ottawa to repeal the National Firearms Registry.



School
n We support the initiation of a voucher system for the school system

o Parents should be afforded the choice of what school their child attends.

o To do this we would give parents an educational credit equivalent to the cost of their child’s education in a public school, which they could use towards a private or alternate school of their choice.



n We demand the immediate removal of all DARE programs and other police-sponsored education programs from all government-run schools.

[pandatimothy]

9. Anti-tax, pro-gun, pro-legalization

I could live with that! HELL YA!

[dutchdemocrat]

11. Not Pro Gun

- Not pro-gun, anti registery. Two different things. The whole registery debacle has cost millions and been a complete waste of money. They put that as a parallel with the millions wasted on enforcing soft drug laws. The party is not Pro-gun per say like you would have in the States.

- New taxes won't be needed due to the money saved in not enforcing soft drug laws. In fact they feel taxes will be lowered from the money saved.

"Ending the War on Marijuana will save millions in government spending, which will be returned to BC taxpayers in the form of tax cuts."

[pandatimothy]

12. Well I see what you are saying

That registry sucks bigtime. You know Canda could have really used that money for all kinds of good stuff at home and over seas.

Who cares if some old duck hunter has a shotgun?

Yeah and for taxes, I bet the ol Canuck govt will tax the heck out of the marijuana.

[Spazito]

14. Well, if they do, the taxes will go to healthcare and education not...

into Star Wars, Halliburton, etc.

[pandatimothy]

15. Just like the monies from the gun registry should have

n/t

[Spazito]

19. ahhh, but that was a one time mess, unlike Iraq, tax cuts for the rich...

those will KEEP costing, on and on and on.

[newyawker99]

22. Hi pandatimothy!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Maine-i-acs]

8. The US invaded Afghanisan -

And one reason Bushco gave was that Afghanistan produced 3/4 of the world's Opium. So he was gonna stop it by gum!

Now we don't have any troops to speak of outside of Kabul, the opium harvest is going full swing, and heroin's four bucks a bag in New England.

So the USGOV's touting its effort to stop drugs in the Western Hemisphere. Yet we sit with troops in the drug-producing capital of the world (Afghanistan) letting all those opiates spread all over the world.

Let the folks have their reefer...the worst thing a Canadian hop-head is going to do is eat all my Oreos.

[MrPrax]

13. Familiar ring...good point

One Bush goes into AF and heroin triples and the other Bush goes into Panama and according to the DEA, only three years after that, coke trafficking up 65% over Noreiga...

BUT BUT Canada is thinking about decriminalizing marijuana!!!

[SlavesandBulldozers]

21. if you do illegal drugs

Jesus wants you in a cage. That's what the US government says.

[GabysPoppy]

23. Locking

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GabysPoppy

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