Pubdate: Mon, 09 Sep 2002
Source: Mountainview Weekly, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2002 The Mountainview Weekly
Contact:  http://www.tmwnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2443
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

CANADIAN SENATE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA

The Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs released its final report on 
cannabis, last Wednesday. In an exhaustive and comprehensive two-year study 
of public policy related to marijuana, the Special Committee found that the 
drug should be legalized.

The 600 plus page Senate report is a result of rigorous research, analysis 
and extensive public hearings in Ottawa and communities throughout Canada 
with experts and citizens.

"Scientific evidence overwhelmingly indicates that cannabis is 
substantially less harmful than alcohol and should be treated not as a 
criminal issue but as a social and public health issue", said Senator 
Pierre Claude Nolin, Chair of the Special Committee, in a news conference 
last week in Ottawa. "Indeed, domestic and international experts and 
Canadians from every walk of life told us loud and clear that we should not 
be imposing criminal records on users or unduly prohibiting personal use of 
cannabis.

At the same time, make no mistake, we are not endorsing cannabis use for 
recreational consumption. Whether or not an individual uses marijuana 
should be a personal choice that is not subject to criminal penalties.

But we have come to the conclusion that, as a drug, it should be regulated 
by the State much as we do for wine and beer, hence our preference for 
legalization over decriminalization."

Among many observations, the Senate Report concludes that: The Government 
of Canada should adopt an integrated policy on the risks and harmful 
effects of psychoactive substances covering the whole range of substances 
including cannabis, medications, alcohol, tobacco andillegal drugs, 
focusing on educating users, detecting and preventing at-risk use and 
treating excessive use; As far as cannabis is concerned, only behaviour 
causing demonstrable harm to others should be prohibited: illegal 
trafficking, selling to young people under the age of sixteen and impaired 
driving; Legislation for a cannabis exemption scheme should be introduced 
stipulating conditions for obtaining licences, producing and selling 
cannabis; criminal penalties for illegal trafficking and export; and the 
preservation of criminal penalties for all activities falling outside the 
scope of the exemption scheme; Present medicinal marijuana provisions are 
not effective and must be revised to provide greater access for those in 
need and amnesty should be provided for any person convicted of possession 
of cannabis under current or past legislation.

In its extensive report, the Special Committee suggests a number of 
specific initiatives for implementing its recommendations such as: creation 
of a National Advisor on Psychoactive Substances and Dependency within the 
Privy Council Office; a high-level conference of key stake-holders from the 
provinces, territories, municipalities and associations in 2003 to set 
goals and priorities for action; creation of a Canadian Centre on 
Psychoactive Substances and Dependency with a strong, clear mandate, 
adequately funded and reporting to Parliament and with a Monitoring Agency 
on Psychoactive Substances and Dependency to conduct studies with the 
provinces and territories and table a bi-annual report on drug-use trends 
and emerging problems; amendments to the Marijuana Medical Access 
Regulations to provide new rules regarding eligibility, availability, 
production and distribution with respect to cannabis for therapeutic 
purposes; amendment to the Criminal Code to lower permitted alcohol levels 
to 40 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood in the presence of 
other drugs, especially, but not exclusively cannabis; and Canada seeking 
amendments to United Nations conventions and treaties governing illegal 
drugs and supporting the development of a Drugs and Dependency Monitoring 
Agency for the Americas.

The Committee also examined the international obligations and repercussions 
of Canada's cannabis policies as well as approaches taken by other 
countries. It studied the impact of more liberal policy approaches to 
cannabis in countries such as the Netherlands, Switzerland and Spain along 
with more restrictive policies such as Sweden, France or the United States. 
There is a clear international trend to reassessing domestic drug policy 
such as recent initiatives toward de-criminalization in the United Kingdom. 
Deputy Chair Senator Colin Kenny points out that "though what we are 
recommending for our country has an impact on our friends and neighbours, 
Canada must make its own decisions in the best interests of its citizens."

The Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs is chaired by Senator Pierre 
Claude Nolin with Senator Colin Kenny as deputy-chair. Also serving on the 
Committee are Senators Tommy Banks, Shirley Maheu and Eileen Rossiter. The 
Special Senate Committee on Illegal Drugs maintains an Internet web site at 
http://www.parl.gc.ca/illegal-drugs.asp. where proceedings, testimony, 
research, general in-formation and its report can be found.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom