Pubdate: Mon, 19 May 2003 Source: Bonnyville Nouvelle (CN AB) Copyright: 2003 Bonnyville Nouvelle Contact: http://www.bonnyvillenouvelle.awna.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2369 WHAT WITH THE GOINGS-ON, WE NEED THE WEED People who are criticizing the federal government's plans to soften the penalties for possession of marijuana aren't looking at things properly because if they were, they'd realize it was the right thing to do. If you're caught with pot, the changes mean you'll only face a fine and not a criminal record. "Hey, aren't alcohol and cigarettes at the centre of the most preventable health care diseases? Wouldn't adding smoking pot only make that problem much worse?" you might ask, adding "And isn't decriminalizing possession of the equivalent of 15 joints of pot while still maintaining the criminalization of growing and trafficking sending mixed and confusing messages to the public?" you might ask. Certainly, but that's the point of why we need to decriminalize use. Look at the big picture. The Prime Minister has forced ratification of the Kyoto Accord, making Canada the only North American country that did it. The US didn't and the rest didn't have to. It won't do anything to reduce greenhouse gases but it will be a Chretien legacy. There appears to be little or no progress on the part of authorities in the investigation into the PM's involvement in a loan deal to a resort in his riding. We do, however, have a billion dollar gun registry that punishes law-abiding gun owners and farmers are jailed for selling their own wheat. Half our income goes to taxes. We put absolute faith in the United Nations to deal with Iraq, when it has demonstrated for more than a decade that it didn't have the political will to do so. When it comes to backing our closest ally, we call their leader a moron and then we mutter how we hate those bastard Americans. And then we wonder why George Bush cancels a trip to Ottawa. Then the PM does his best Mohammed Saeed impersonation, saying, just as the White House is confirming the visit has been cancelled, that the visit has not been cancelled and all is well. There's the federal leadership race. The front runner, Paul Martin, says he'll lead a different style of government but so far he's turned his back on every opportunity to put his money where his mouth is. He could have rallied his government MP supporters and defeated a government money bill, forcing a non-confidence issue and a subsequent early election. Martin could have shortened Chretien's 18 month deadline quickly but nothing. Martin will lead exactly the same kind of government Chretien is leading now. Everyone knows it and yet we'll still elect a Liberal government next year. How agravating is that? You're blood should be boiling now, your frustration should be at critical levels. You need to relax, a joint would be great now. So you see, the government needs to decriminalize the possession of pot because we need it to help us cope with one of the most frustrating times in Canadian history. And if it keeps up, they should not only make pot use legal, they should make it mandatory. - --- MAP posted-by: Tom