Pubdate: Wed, 03 Nov 2004 Source: Nelson Daily News (CN BC) Copyright: 2004 Nelson Daily News Contact: http://www.nelsondailynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/288 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) MARIJUANA BILL SLAMMED Local employee at cannabis culture shop and MP on same side of Bill C-17 debate The push to reform marijuana laws, that was reignited after the federal government re-introduced legislation decriminalizing possession for personal use this week, has been drawing criticism by a local cannabis expert who says it will be viewed as prohibition of pot. "This is a cash cow system of collecting," said Holy Smoke Culture Shop co-owner Alan Middlemiss. "I'm totally against Bill C-17." Like identical legislation that died with the federal election call, Bill C-17 would treat possession of small quantities of pot much like a speeding ticket. Instead of jail time, the punishment would be a $150 fine for adults and $100 for minors holding 15 grams or less - enough to roll about 30 joints. But anybody caught with more than 15 grams would still face jail time - with a possible six months in prison - and a maximum fine of $1,000. The Liberals moved to silence anti-drug critics by also retabling a bill to toughen the rules against drug-impaired driving. Police would gain the power to force motorists to submit to drug testing, and refusal to comply would be punishable by the same laws against drunk driving. Middlemiss said the legislation is really sending mixed messages to the public. The bill just doesn't make sense. "It's unbelievable that they can make something decriminalized and basically say that it's a non-offense to smoke pot as long as you're not driving and on the other hand say that it's really a harsh crime to grow any amount of it," said Middlemiss, one of the three owners of Holy Smoke. The Liberals appeared set to trumpet the tougher rules while downplaying the relaxation of marijuana laws in an effort to stave off criticism from the Conservatives. "Possession and consumption of marijuana is illegal and will remain illegal," Justice Minister Irwin Cotler said. "The only change here revolves around decriminalization for people holding small quantities." Local Conservative MP Jim Gouk said he wasn't surprised to see the Liberals reintroduce the legislation. "I anticipated it," Gouk told the Daily News from the Nation's capital. "But it still has the same flaws as the previous bill." Overall, the MP from Thrums said he has a mixed reaction about the bill because it is so "poorly crafted and ill thought out." There is no way Gouk can support it. "They're going to change it so it's not a criminal offense to possess 15 grams or less of marijuana but it's still going to be a criminal offense to sell marijuana," he explained. "So how does one acquire their non-criminal marijuana without participating in a criminal act? This thing has been very poorly thought out." The Liberals' precarious minority government position means that even if most of their MPs support Bill C-17, they will need help from the Opposition benches to pass it. The Bloc Quebecois has only minor concerns with the legislation, said one party official in an indication that the Liberals could indeed find that support. Before the bill can go to second reading in the House of Commons, it must first come up for debate before a parliamentary committee in two weeks. Gouk said he's unsure whether the legislation will receive third reading to be ultimately approved. "It depends what happens when it gets to committee," Gouk said. "To be honest with you, I don't know where the Bloc is coming from - and that's going to be the key. The way this crazy parliament is made up, the Liberals, even with the NDP who will undoubtedly support it, are not enough to pass it. Either someone from our side or from the Bloc will have to support it as well." Gouk also was critical of the idea of ticketing those with possession under 15 grams. "That begs the question, are people going to pay the fine? If you have people who are in a particular lifestyle mode and you get what's the equivalent of a parking ticket, are you going to pay it or are you going to let it pile up and laugh at it?" Middlemiss said the area is known for the quantity of cannabis being grown, however that's a bit of a misnomer." "It's actually the smalltime growers growing better pot that puts us on the map. And with this new legislation, you're not going to see that anymore," he said. "You're only going to see the biggest criminals willing to take the risk with the new penalties to cater to this market of urbanites that want decriminalized marijuana." According to Middlemiss, he believes this "prohibition" of marijuana will "drive the price of pot way up" and increase petty crime based on theft of weed. "I really hope that Jim Gouk is going to stand up for the people in this area," Middlemiss furthered. "The mom and pops that have historically grown a small amount of cannabis are now facing jail time. I hope he takes a stand for his constituency where there is a large number of small-time growers not a large amount of large-time growers." - --- MAP posted-by: Josh