Pubdate: Sat, 29 Apr 2017
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2017 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.torontosun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://torontosun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457
Author: Ted Woloshyn
Page: 19

WILL OUR POT LAWS GO TO POT?

A number of years ago when then U.S. president Bill Clinton was asked
if he had ever smoked marijuana, his response was, "I tried it, but I
didn't inhale."

I'm glad I wasn't inhaling or swallowing when I heard him because I
probably would have gagged.

I thought to myself, "poor man, he never had a chance".

Well Mr. President, please accept my personal invitation to join
Canadians next summer and inhale away - just don't drive.

Whether you are in favour of the legalization of cannabis matters not,
for our government has decreed it so. Why? Is it a tax grab? No, not
really, although if done properly it could become a new revenue stream.

The Trudeau government says its focus is to keep it away from kids and
take it out of the hands of organized crime.

If so, it had better make sure it's priced significantly lower than on
the street.

The government has set the minimum age for possession at 18 and says
it will licence growers.

Provincial governments can change the legal age and will also be
responsible for licensing distributors.

Great, there's another thing Kathleen Wynne and her posse can screw
up.

"Oh look, here comes Ornge with some pot."

Under federal plans, those of legal age can legally possess up to 30
grams of pot and grow up to four plants at home.

There's still no word on how they'll handle the issue of edibles, a
troublesome one.

For example, do you allow producers to manufacture brownies, cookies
and gummies filled with pot? The kind young kids like to eat?

The penalties and fines for breaking the aforementioned rules can be
quite severe, as well as confusing and nonsensical.

Possessing more than 30 grams or possessing cannabis that comes from
outside the legal system can get you anywhere from a $5,000 fine
and/or six months in jail, up to five years in jail.

But what if you're in possession of excess pot that you grew? Is that
outside the legal system?

The penalties for selling to a minor range from a $15,000 fine and/or
18 months in jail, up to a 14-year sentence.

Yet if you're caught selling alcohol to a minor the penalty is up to
one year in jail and up to a $200,000 fine.

Why the huge discrepancy, if they're both legal?

If you surpass your legal limit of four homegrown plants, the penalty
can be anywhere from a $5,000 fine and/or six months, to 14 years in
the slammer.

That's if they are "harvesting" plants. The penalties for
"non-flowering" plants are less.

My guess is if the police suspect you've got a farm in your backyard
they'll come after you.

But I don't believe they'll be going yard to yard making sure you have
only four plants instead of five or six.

"Look, he has five plants! Off with his head!"

Driving while high is a huge issue provoking much discussion and
debate, including the accuracy of any test used to determine if the
driver is stoned.

Just like defence lawyers continue to argue about the accuracy of
breathalyzers.

In little more than a year from now, much will have changed, but for
those who are concerned that Canada will turn into some kind of spaced
out country, I guess you have to hope that most people will try it,
but not inhale.
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MAP posted-by: Matt