Pubdate: Thu, 15 Nov 2001
Source: Esquimalt News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2001 Esquimalt News
Contact:  http://www.esquimaltnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1290
Author: Mark Browne
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

BILL PUSHES DECRIMINALIZATION OF MARIJUANA

Keith Martin has his fingers crossed the federal government will eventually 
throw out the current laws governing marijuana possession.

So far, the Canadian Alliance MP for Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca has managed to 
get his private member's bill - Bill C-344 - ccepted for debate in the 
House of Commons. The Bill pushes for the decriminalization of simple 
possession of marijuana a.

The debate began last Wednesday and three more sessions will be held in the 
near future.

Martin says his private member's bill stipulates anyone caught with 
marijuana would not receive a criminal record. Rather, they would be 
treated in the same way as a driver who commits a traffic violation. A 
person caught with a small amount of pot would be fined $200 for the first 
offence, $500 for the second offence and $1,000 for the third.

As it currently stands, says Martin, dealing with marijuana cases in the 
judicial system is costing taxpayers a lot of money. "It will save about 
$150 million from judicial costs for the prosecution of people for simple 
possession of marijuana," he says.

Martin says the money saved from not prosecuting people busted with 
marijuana could be invested in programs that deter young people from using 
drugs.

He notes the national Headstart program, which he managed to get passed in 
the House of Commons in 1998, is one area where money could be used. But 
first the feds have to first put the program into action, says Martin. The 
money saved from not dealing with marijuana possession through the judicial 
system could also be used to combat large-scale drug trafficking by 
criminal organizations.

Martin notes the notion of decriminalizing marijuana is gaining support 
from the RCMP and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.

"This will prevent people from actually having a criminal record," says 
Martin about his bill. "Why should a 19-year-old get convicted of simple 
possession of marijuana and receive a criminal record that prevents them 
from pursuing a lot of job opportunities later on?"

He notes Great Britain is planning to decriminalize marijuana.

The push to change marijuana laws has historically come from liberal and 
left-leaning politicians.

However, more recently, such views are being expressed on the right side of 
the political spectrum.

While Martin isn't particularly right-wing, the party he represents is 
right-leaning.

The governor of New Mexico - a Republican - recently spoke to Canada's 
senate committee examining the current drug laws and expressed his view 
that decriminalizing pot is the way to go.

Norman Ruff, a political science professor at the University of Victoria, 
points out the existence of the BC Marijuana Party when explaining the 
notion of marijuana decriminalization being supported by individuals who 
wear a variety of political stripes.

The Marijuana Party, he notes, attracts supporters and members, who in some 
cases, are right-leaning civil libertarians (other members of the party are 
left-leaning).

As well, right-leaning libertarians -- who don't think the state should be 
telling people they can't smoke pot -- can be found among supporters of the 
Canadian Alliance and the Republican Party in the U.S., says Ruff. "It's 
taken on a whole new dimension and the dimension is the role of the state 
in our lives," says Ruff.

Still, there is plenty of resistance against decriminalizing marijuana in 
the U.S.

And until the issue of changing the laws on pot gain more acceptance in 
Washington D.C., Ruff argues the marijuana laws won't change in Canada.

But it's quite possible that, in another 10 years, people in both countries 
won't have to worry about being charged as criminals simply because they 
get caught with a small amount of pot, he speculates.

Bill C-344 isn't just about decriminalizing pot.

Martin says he's hoping by raising the issue of decriminalizing marijuana 
he will be able to have the larger issue of how the international drug 
trade fosters drug consumption addressed.

Martin says one of his major objectives is to find ways to reduce drug 
consumption by having the necessary powers to go after those who pull the 
strings in the international drug trade.

He says he would also like to see the development of new progressive 
medical models for treating addicts who use hard drugs.

"The bill I'm using is a stepping stone to break the glass ceiling on how 
we actually approach drug abuse in Canada," says Martin.
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MAP posted-by: Beth