MarijuanaNews.com : Canadian Justice Minister Cites UK Move In Trial Balloon on “Decriminalization.” Police Want to Keep “Hammer.” Reporting from Haarlem in The Netherlands.

Posted July 16, 2002
(MarijuanaNews note: Although this appears to be a
strategic retreat for the Canadian prohibitionists, it is very dangerous. The
Canadian narks are waging a major prohibitionist propaganda campaign calling for
much harsher penalties for growing.)
See
The Agenda for the
Prohibitionist Counterattack in Canada. Analysis by Richard Cowan

From The National Post
http://nationalpost.com

(MarijuanaNews note: The National Post is one of Canada’s two national
newspapers. It has endorsed legalization editorially, but has also printed some
prohibitionist propaganda. This piece largely ignores the cannabis community.)
See
Canada’s National Post
Prints DEAland Prohibitionist Propaganda and Ignores Facts. Even
Anti-Prohibitionists Have No Standards When the Subject Is Cannabis. Analysis by
Richard Cowan

Cauchon considers relaxing marijuana law Decriminalization: Small-time
users would get a fine like a parking ticket.
By Janice Tibbetts
(MarijuanaNews note: Two points about the context.

First, in the current Canadian government I feel certain that the Justice
Minister did not float this trial balloon without the specific approval of the
Prime Minister, a total control freak.

Second, while he “acknowledged Britain’s move last week to reclassify
cannabis is a factor in his decision,” he does not intend to follow the proposed
UK model, which has been almost universally panned. The problems of the black
market will continue in both countries)
See
Bonkers in Britain: New
Cannabis Rules Please No One, Confuse Everyone. Watching the Political
Establishment Make Fools of Themselves. Analysis by Richard Cowan

OTTAWA - Martin Cauchon, the Minister of Justice, says Canada
is seriously considering decriminalizing marijuana
possession because the current system encourages a patchwork of criminal charges
across the country.

(MarijuanaNews note: Vancouver has a non-arrest policy while in some parts of
Canada simple possession still results in jail time for a few thousand Canadians
every year.)

After years of debate, Mr. Cauchon’s revelation that he is contemplating
action is the closest any minister of justice has come in recent years to
acknowledging that saddling people with criminal records for recreational drug
use might not be fair or an efficient use of police resources.

“There is discussion to find ways to be more efficient, more effective,” Mr.
Cauchon confirmed yesterday. “We’re not talking about making it legal; we’re
talking about the possibility of moving ahead with what we call
decriminalization.”

The proposal would mean handing small-time users a fine akin to a parking
ticket rather than criminally charging and arresting them and forcing them
through the court system.

(MarijuanaNews note: The danger is that the police will increase enforcement
to milk the cannabis community for fines. This would be a step backward in
Vancouver. Of course, the police will still have to choose their priorities, but
it is clear that the Justice Minister wants to increase enforcement.)

Mr. Cauchon said he would wait for recommendations from a Senate committee
studying decriminalization and consult widely with Canadians before replacing
the federal law.

The Senate committee, which has held hearings across the country, will
produce a report by late summer that is expected to recommend relaxing marijuana
possession laws.
See
Mexican
Governors’ Proposal for “Legalization” Becomes “Decriminalization” In The New
York Times. Meanwhile Canadian Senate Committee Says Something That Sounds Like
“Legalization” But Is Ignored.

Mr. Cauchon acknowledged Britain’s move last week to reclassify cannabis is a
factor in his decision.

However, his proposal goes further than that in the United Kingdom, which
still plans to maintain marijuana possession as a criminal offence, but is
instructing police not to lay charges if people have the drug for their personal
use.

Mr. Cauchon said the current system in Canada, in which police in some
provinces lay charges while others do not, might not be working as it should.
Also, some people are getting off entirely because police do not want to lay
charges when a criminal record is at stake, he said.

“If you look at the system that we have in place, keeping it criminal,
it’s not very efficient,” he said. “Depending where
you are across Canada, they apply or they don’t apply the legislation that we
have.”

The prospect is a dramatic change of heart for Mr. Cauchon, who said this
year that society is not ready for decriminalizing marijuana.
See
Leader of
Canadian Tories Supports “Decriminalization” – Not “Legalization” — Again. This
Makes Mere “Decriminalization” a Defeat for Us. Defining Our Terms and Setting
Our Goals.

There were signs yesterday that he will encounter fierce opposition if he
moves ahead, even from within the federal Cabinet.

Lawrence MacAulay, the Solicitor-General, voiced concerns and police promised
to fight any move to decriminalize what they say is the “gateway drug” that
leads to more serious drug use.
See

“Those who insist on keeping the plant illegal bear a serious degree of moral
responsibility for young marijuana users who do go on to use cocaine, heroin,
PCP or other genuinely dangerous or addictive drugs.”
Alan Bock, of the Orange County Register On the Real Gateway
and
Extraordinary
Editorial in Winnipeg Free Press Outlines “Findings of Fact” In Possession Case
to Be Heard by Canadian Supreme Court.

“Drugs are a very serious problem in this country and what we have to do is
do what’s right and make sure we have the proper rules and laws in place,” Mr.
MacAulay said.

“Law enforcement is quite concerned about the drug problem in this country
and they’ll certainly be involved, too, before any changes are made.”

Grant Obst, president of the Canadian Police Association, said
decriminalization would hamper efforts to catch drug traffickers because police
would not be able to use the threat of a criminal record to extract information
from people about where they bought their marijuana.
See
Canadians Need
to Examine The Role of the Police In Maintaining Marijuana Prohibition. Paying
For Lies That Distort Public Policies and Undermine Sovereignty. Analysis by
Richard Cowan

“It sort of gives you the hammer,” said Mr. Obst, a Saskatoon police officer.
(MarijuanaNews note: What a revealing statement.
This man should not be carrying a hammer, much less a badge and a gun.)

“I really hope we get to consult with the Minister before any dramatic moves
are made in this regard.
See
Great Canadian
Editorial Calls for Legalization; Decries Justice Minister’s Giving Narks Veto
Over Changing Marijuana Laws.

Mr. Obst said the threat of a criminal record also deters some people from
getting involved in marijuana smoking, which he maintained can lead to more
serious drug use.

Proponents of decriminalization argue it would free police to deal with more
serious crimes.

(MarijuanaNews note: This article has no input from the “proponents of
legalization.” As in the UK, it would appear that the only justification for
freedom is that it increases police efficiency! What a sad comment on the state
of political thought in the Anglo-Saxon world.)

The federal government is considering moving possession from the Criminal
Code and putting it in a less serious piece of non-criminal legislation called
the Contravention Act, Mr. Cauchon said. He refused to provide further details
about federal plans.

There has been mounting pressure on the federal government to decriminalize
possession of small amounts of marijuana, including a call from the Canadian
Medical Association Journal, which said last year that the more than 1.5 million
Canadians who smoke marijuana should not risk the indelible tattoo of a criminal
record.
See
Journal of Canadian
Medical Association Calls for Decriminalization. Perfect Timing. Contrast with
DEAland.