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.
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MAP posted-by: Tom