Dear Editor: Re: Legalization fight still on after smoke clears, The Record, April 26. Now that neighbouring Washington and Colorado states have legalized marijuana, Ottawa can no longer claim Canada must uphold marijuana prohibition in order to maintain good U.S. relations. In 2002, the Canadian Senate's special committee on illegal drugs concluded marijuana is relatively benign, prohibition contributes to organized crime and law enforcement efforts have little impact on patterns of use. Consider the experience of the United States, current world leader in per capita incarceration. [continues 69 words]
When it comes to reforming laws governing marijuana, politicians send message that they just don't want to know In these days of high anxiety, there's a phobia for just about everything. Consider, for example, "epistemophobia," the fear of knowledge. Now you might be wondering about who could possibly fear knowledge, given that a lack of knowledge is invariably fatal. So I'll tell you who's afraid of knowledge: Your elected representatives, that's who. We have seen successive governments shy away, not merely from repealing damaging laws that criminalize possession of and trade in marijuana, but from learning anything about the effect of such drugs or such laws. [continues 1178 words]
Regarding Michel Kelly-Gagnon's April 27 column "Make money with pot, not war," now that neighbouring Washington state and Colorado have legalized marijuana, Ottawa can no longer claim Canada must uphold marijuana prohibition in order to maintain good U.S. relations. In 2002, the Canadian Senate's Special Committee on Illegal Drugs concluded that marijuana is relatively benign, prohibition contributes to organized crime, and law enforcement efforts have little impact on patterns of use. Consider the experience of the former land of the free and current world leader in per capita incarceration. Despite decades of zero tolerance, the U.S. has higher rates of marijuana use than the Netherlands, where marijuana is legally available. The only winners in the war on marijuana are drug cartels and shameless tough-on-drugs politicians who've built careers confusing the drug war's tremendous collateral damage with a comparatively harmless plant. Robert Sharpe, Arlington, Virginia [end]
Regarding Michel Kelly-Gagnon's April 27 column, now that neighboring Washington state and Colorado have legalized marijuana, Ottawa can no longer claim Canada must uphold marijuana prohibition in order to maintain good U.S. relations. In 2002, the Canadian Senate's Special Committee on Illegal Drugs concluded that marijuana is relatively benign, prohibition contributes to organized crime, and law enforcement efforts have little impact on patterns of use. Consider the experience of the former land of the free and current world leader in per capita incarceration. Despite decades of zero tolerance, the U.S. has higher rates of marijuana use than the Netherlands, where marijuana is legally available. The only winners in the war on marijuana are drug cartels and shameless tough-on-drugs politicians who've built careers confusing the drug war's tremendous collateral damage with a comparatively harmless plant. Robert Sharpe, Arlington, Virginia [end]
Re: Pot laws hurting society (Editorials, Jan. 7). Kudos on your editorial. Now that Washington State and Colorado have legalized marijuana, Ottawa can no longer claim Canada must uphold marijuana prohibition in order to maintain good U.S. relations. In 2002, the Canadian Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs concluded that marijuana is relatively benign, prohibition contributes to organized crime, and law enforcement efforts have little impact on patterns of use. Consider the experience of the former land of the free and current world leader in per capita incarceration. The U.S. has double the rate of marijuana use as the Netherlands, where marijuana is legally available. The only winners in the war on marijuana are drug cartels and shameless tough-on-drugs politicians who deliberately confuse the drug war's tremendous collateral damage with a comparatively harmless plant. Common Sense for Drug Policy Washington [end]
It's been two months since the states of Colorado and Washington legalized marijuana for personal use, joining dozens of countries that have decriminalized or legalized the drug without experiencing the collapse of their societies, an increase in mental illness or a rise in the laziness index. These states have stopped making criminals out of pot smokers because they realized it was counter-productive; it fuelled drug profits for organized crime, tied up police resources and saddled millions of young people with criminal records. [continues 544 words]
Please consider publishing the following brief letter in response to your Dec. 19 editorial: Now that neighbouring Washington state and Colorado have legalized marijuana, Ottawa can no longer claim Canada must uphold marijuana prohibition in order to maintain good U.S. relations. In 2002, the Canadian Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs concluded that marijuana is relatively benign, prohibition contributes to organized crime, and law enforcement efforts have little impact on patterns of use. Consider the experience of the former land of the free and current world leader in per capita incarceration. The United States has double the rate of marijuana use as the Netherlands, where marijuana is legally available to adults. The only winners in the war on marijuana are drug cartels and shameless tough-on-drugs politicians who've built careers confusing the drug war's tremendous collateral damage with a plant. [continues 88 words]
Now that neighbouring Washington state and Colorado have legalized marijuana, Ottawa can no longer claim Canada must uphold marijuana prohibition in order to maintain good U.S. relations. In 2002, the Canadian Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs concluded that marijuana is relatively benign, prohibition contributes to organized crime, and law enforcement efforts have little impact on patterns of use. Consider the experience of the former land of the free and current world leader in per capita incarceration. The United States has double the rate of marijuana use as the Netherlands, where marijuana is legally available to adults. The only winners in the war on marijuana are drug cartels and shameless tough-on-drugs politicians who've built careers confusing the drug war's tremendous collateral damage with a comparatively harmless plant. Robert Sharpe MPA Policy Analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy Washington, DC [end]
Re: "Washington vote boosts change in province," (Alberni Valley Times, Nov. 20) Now that neighbouring Washington State and Colorado have legalized marijuana, Ottawa can no longer claim Canada must uphold marijuana prohibition in order to maintain good U.S. relations. In 2002, the Canadian Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs concluded that marijuana is relatively benign, prohibition contributes to organized crime, and law enforcement efforts have little impact on patterns of use. Consider the experience of the former land of the free and current world leader in per capita incarceration. The U.S. has double the rate of marijuana use as the Netherlands, where marijuana is legally available.The only winners in the war on marijuana are drug cartels and shameless tough-on-drugs politicians who confuse the drug war's tremendous collateral damage with a plant. Robert Sharpe Policy Analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy [end]
Dear Editor, Now that Washington State and Colorado have legalized marijuana [Pot laws not about all or nothing, Nov. 15 Painful Truth, Langley Advance], Ottawa can no longer claim Canada must uphold marijuana prohibition to maintain good U.S. relations. In 2002, the Canadian Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs concluded that marijuana is relatively benign, prohibition contributes to organized crime, and law enforcement efforts have little impact on patterns of use. Consider the experience of the former "land of the free" and current world leader in per capita incarceration. The U.S. has double the rate of marijuana use as the Netherlands, where marijuana is legally available. The only winners in the war on marijuana are drug cartels and shameless tough-on-drugs politicians who deliberately confuse the drug war's tremendous collateral damage with a comparatively harmless plant. Robert Sharpe, Common Sense for Drug Policy, U.S.A. [end]
Our panelists examine the possible choices Canada faces after Colorado and Washington states legalized recreational marijuana earlier this month Continue Status Quo Colton Carrick, ArtSci '16 With the recent legalization of marijuana in the US, many Canadians were left in awe at the decision made by our traditionally more conservative neighbour. For decades we Canadians have considered ourselves substantially more progressive on issues such as gay marriage, abortion, healthcare and until now - drug use. However with America's decision, we are now looking to our own drug laws and questioning their relevance and effectiveness in our modern age. Is the legalization of marijuana the right move for the Canadian government? Absolutely not. [continues 1877 words]
Re: Let others pioneer pot liberalization first, Letters, Nov. 19 Letter writer Rob Brandreth-Gibbs accused cannabis law reform advocates of avoiding and failing to discuss several questions he has with respect to cannabis legalization. I recommend he read the report of the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs of 2002, "Cannabis: Our Position for a Canadian Public Policy." The committee interviewed dozens of expert witnesses and exhaustively reviewed mountains of evidence and peer-reviewed research before publishing its four volume report, which unanimously recommended cannabis be regulated in a manner similar to alcohol and tobacco, the sooner the better. [continues 142 words]
Editor: Re: Shaun Thomas' Nov. 14 column, Prince Rupert Northern View. Now that neighbouring Washington State and Colorado have legalized marijuana, Ottawa can no longer claim Canada must uphold marijuana prohibition in order to maintain good U.S. relations. In 2002, the Canadian Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs concluded that marijuana is relatively benign, prohibition contributes to organized crime, and law enforcement efforts have little impact on patterns of use. Consider the experience of the former land of the free and current world leader in per capita incarceration. The U.S. has double the rate of marijuana use as the Netherlands, where marijuana is legally available. The only winners in the war on marijuana are drug cartels and shameless tough-on-drugs politicians who confuse the drug war's tremendous collateral damage with a comparatively harmless plant. Policy Analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy Washington, D.C. [end]
Re: I'm writing in response to Greg Mercer's Nov. 10 column: "Guelph cannabis club charges go up in smoke." Now that neighbouring Washington state and Colorado have legalized marijuana, Ottawa can no longer claim Canada must uphold marijuana prohibition in order to maintain good U.S. relations. In 2002, the Canadian Senate offered a common sense alternative to marijuana prohibition when the special committee on illegal drugs concluded that marijuana is relatively benign, prohibition contributes to organized crime, and law enforcement efforts have little impact on patterns of use. [continues 84 words]
Now that neighbouring Washington state and Colorado have legalized marijuana, Ottawa can no longer claim that Canada must uphold marijuana prohibition to maintain good U.S. relations. In 2002, the Canadian Senate offered a common sense alternative to marijuana prohibition when the Special Committee on Illegal Drugs concluded that marijuana is relatively benign, prohibition contributes to organized crime, and law enforcement efforts have little impact on patterns of use. Marijuana prohibition is a catastrophic failure and voters across North America know it. The United States has double the rate of marijuana use as the Netherlands, where marijuana is legally available to adults. The only clear winners in the war on marijuana are drug cartels and shameless tough-on-drugs politicians who've built careers confusing the drug war's collateral damage with a relatively harmless plant. Robert Sharpe is a policy analyst with Common Sense for Drug Policy [end]
Re: Editor's Note, Nov. 8 - 14 RCMP marijuana eradication efforts are no doubt well-intended, but ultimately counterproductive. The drug war's distortion of immutable laws of supply and demand causes big money to grow on little trees. Canadian tax dollars are wasted on anti-drug strategies that only make marijuana growing more profitable. In 2002, the Canadian senate offered a common sense alternative to prohibition when the Special Committee on Illegal Drugs concluded that marijuana is relatively benign, marijuana prohibition contributes to organized crime, and law enforcement efforts have little impact on patterns of use. Consider the experience of Canada's southern neighbour, the former land of the free and current record holder in citizens incarcerated. Based on findings that criminal records are inappropriate as health interventions, a majority of European Union countries have decriminalized marijuana. Despite marijuana prohibition and perhaps because of forbidden fruit appeal, lifetime use of marijuana is higher in the U.S. than any European country. The short-term health effects of marijuana are inconsequential compared to the long-term effects of criminal records. Canada should follow the lead of Europe and Just Say No to the American Inquisition. Robert Sharpe, Washington, DC [end]
Economic impact unclear as two U.S. states vote for legal use VANCOUVER - The future appears hazy for British Columbia's thriving underground pot industry, even as two U.S. states have voted to allow citizens to legally use the drug recreationally. Business consequences could range from mild to sending marijuana producers' livelihoods up in smoke, depending on how much of the estimated $6 billion to $8 billion annual economy is currently being exported south of the border, analysts say. Opinion on the impact varies considerably, but those advocating for Canada to adopt a more evidence-based policy on marijuana say this week's votes mean Canada is falling behind the U.S. in developing evidence-based policy. [continues 854 words]
Given that Nanaimo Mayor John Ruttan cannot imagine refraining from criminalizing cannabis consumers, young and old, casual or chronic, unless he becomes "really able to believe" that cannabis is not "harmful in any way," one wonders what other potentially harmful substances and recreational pastimes he would attempt to suppress with our overburdened criminal justice system. Television? Junk food? Sports? The question before us is not whether or not cannabis should exist, but rather, what is the optimal (not utopian) regulatory model for mitigating the relatively insignificant harms cannabis causes. Abdicating control of the market to criminals and teenagers makes matters worse. [continues 197 words]
Backed by a growing roster of politicians, health officers, and legal experts, a single beat cop blows the whistle on prohibition For all the hype, says Const. David Bratzer, the life of a downtown cop is about wordplay more often than gunplay. As the scores of drug offenders who've served jail time at his insistence will attest, his main weapon isn't his service revolver, it's polite, persistent persuasion. As he unrolls his six-foot frame from a floatplane in Vancouver harbour on a humid summer morning, that's a weapon he plans to level once again at the very drug laws he's charged with enforcing. "It's tough for a cop to admit," he says, heading down the wharf while buttoning his charcoal jacket, "but our laws just don't make sense." [continues 3114 words]
WEST Vancouver MLA Joan McIntyre and former West Vancouver police chief Kash Heed have both come out in favour of legalizing marijuana. The two politicians - neither of whom are running in the next provincial election - both went public with their views in the past week. "As a society, I really think it's time we look at these issues in a different way," said McIntyre, who added she's been in favour of legalizing pot for some time. McIntyre said legalizing, taxing and regulating marijuana would cut down on the gang violence fuelled by organized crime's control of and profit from illegal drugs. [continues 454 words]
