Pubdate: Fri, 3 Apr 2009
Source: Victoria News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 Black Press
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/wOQxPi2c
Website: http://www.vicnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1267
Author: Rebecca Aldous
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Marijuana - Canada)

VICTORIA MP WANTS GOVERNMENT TO DECRIMINALIZE POT

One fight against gang violence starts with decriminalizing possession
of small amounts of marijuana, says Keith Martin.

Today, the Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca MP is introducing a bill in the
House of Commons recommending fines instead of of criminal charges for
anyone found with two pot plants or less than 30 grams of marijuana.

"This bill is bad news for criminal gangs, which are the only
beneficiaries of the status quo because it would eliminate demand for
their product," Martin said in a press release. Martin proposed a
similar bill twice before, but both times they were voted down.

But he is adamant the bill will save the police force time and the
country money that could be redirected to programs that reduce the
incidence of substance abuse.

"The war of drugs has been a complete failure. It has not reduced the
crime rate, drug use, nor has it saved money or lives," Martin said.

"Decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of pot and up to two
plants will sever the connection between organized crime and casual
users of pot." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake