|
Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
|
|
CN ON: New Marijuana Laws Likely To Take Effect In December
ccguide Tuesday 20 May 2003 Pubdate: Mon, 19 May 2003 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Section: Page A18 Copyright: 2003 The Province Contact: Website: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Author: Rick Mofina NEW MARIJUANA LAWS LIKELY TO TAKE EFFECT IN DECEMBER OTTAWA - Canadians won't likely see the federal government's new marijuana law until later this year, says a Senator who headed a committee calling for the relaxation of penalties for pot users. "Probably by Christmas we'll have new amendments," said Tory Senator Pierre-Claude Nolin on Ottawa Inside Out on Global TV yesterday. Justice Minister Martin Cauchon is poised to introduce legislation this month that would relax marijuana laws by removing possession of less than 15 grams from the Criminal Code. "He was supposed to do it this week. It was postponed to some time before the adjournment in June," Nolin said, adding that it now appears unlikely until the end of the year. Nolin, who chaired a Senate committee that recommended a form of legalization by where marijuana would be controlled and sold in much the same way as wine, said Canada's objective has not been explained properly to wary U.S. officials in Washington. "Here in Canada, we're going to have de-penalization, smaller sanctions for an illegal action," said Nolin. "We have to explain to them (the U.S.) what are our objectives." Police across Canada are concerned with the government's move to ease its laws on what is now illicit drug use, Mike Niebudek, vice-president of the Canadian Police Association, sad on the show. "There has to be a threshold. There has to be a line drawn somewhere and right now the line is being drawn at the marijuana level," Niebudek said. "For some people, especially children, what we're sending is a strong message, that society is not tolerating the possession of marijuana right now." Niebudek said easing Canada's pot possession law would lead to abuse of harder drugs. Nolin disagreed. The chaos over Canada's pot laws was compounded Friday by Ontario Superior Court Justice Steven Rogin's ruling that possessing less than 30 grams of marijuana is no longer against the law in Ontario. Niebudek said the decision is likely to be appealed to the high court. Cauchon has emphasized the bill will also include stiffer penalties against drug traffickers and grow operations. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth
After you have finished reading this article you can click here to go back.
|
This page was created by the Cannabis Campaigners' Guide.
Feel free to link to this page!