Pubdate: Thu, 01 Mar 2012
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Times Colonist
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/letters.html
Website: http://www.timescolonist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Jordan Press

CHANGE CRIME BILL, TAX POT: INTERNATIONAL DRUG POLICY GROUP

OTTAWA - An international group of thinkers, business people and
former politicians is urging the federal government to change its
omnibus crime bill, arguing stiffer sentences for "minor" marijuana
crimes won't make Canada safer.

The Global Commission on Drug Policy, which includes former head of
the United Nations Kofi Annan and billionaire Sir Richard Branson,
signed an open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and senators
urging them to amend the crime bill and, instead of penalties, make
pot legal.

In its letter, released Wednesday, the group asked the government to
consider taxing and regulating marijuana "as an alternative strategy
to undermine organized crime and improve community health and safety."

"Adopting the mandatory sentencing for minor cannabis offences would
send Canada down a tragic path, likely costing your taxpayers billions
and doing nothing to tackle drug violence or drug dependency," Branson
said in a news release. "Canada should explore policies that treat
drugs as a health issue, not a criminal issue."

Commission co-ordinator Ilona Szabo de Carvalho said Canada could look
to the experience of places such as Europe, where drugs have been
legalized and drug crime has dropped.

The government indicated Wednesday it had no plans to amend the bill,
or talk with Branson and the commission about Canada's drug laws.

"The Safe Streets and Communities Act goes after the source of the
illicit drug trade - the drug traffickers. The kinds of offenders we
are targeting are those who are involved in exploiting the addictions
of others for personal profit," said Julie Di Mambro, a spokeswoman
for Justice Minister Rob Nicholson.

The letter comes as the Senate is set to approve Bill C-10, known as
the Safe Streets and Communities Act, by the end of the week. The
Conservatives used their majority in the Senate on Wednesday to limit
the amount of debate on C-10 to six hours.

"This could lead to a vote [today] or on Friday, depending on how the
debate proceeds," said Senator Marjory Lebreton, the government leader
in the Senate.

Once the Senate approves the bill, it would return to the House of
Commons for approval.

The omnibus crime bill has come under scrutiny for some of the
mandatory minimums that it would impose for certain drug crimes.

The one that receives the most attention, and which Liberal senators
unsuccessfully tried to amend during a Senate committee meeting
Monday, was making it illegal to grow as few as six marijuana plants.
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MAP posted-by: Matt