POT PROTESTERS OPPOSE BILL C-26

A group of protesters gathered at the provincial legislature Monday to
protest amendments to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act proposed
by the Harper government.

Bill C-26 would see the imposition of mandatory minimum sentences for
possession of drugs with the purposes of trafficking.

The protest was part of the National Day of Demonstration protesting
marijuana prohibition and Bill C-26. Protesters all around the country
were urged to lobby local politicians to demand they end support for
the proposed amendments.

Under the proposed bill, mandatory minimum sentences would be imposed
where previously there were none. For example, anybody caught
producing less than 200 marijuana plants with the intent to traffic
would be sentenced to at least six months in jail. The bill includes
"aggravating factors" which may increase the minimum sentence. For
example, if the offence was committed on or near a school, or any
place frequented by people under the age of 18, the minimum sentence
would increase to nine months.

Other aggravating factors include the use or threat of use of a
weapon, and involving anyone under 18 years in the commission of an
offence.

"Our strategy to get tough on illegal drugs really concentrates on the
traffickers, on the elements that have relationships with organized
crime, with violent offenders, or with youth," said Andrew Scheer,
Conservative MP for Regina-Qu'Appelle. "It's not anything out of line
with what Canadians want."

Scheer said he believes the bill would make it more difficult to
produce and traffic drugs and be associated with organized crime.

However, protesters said that the bill would do little to prevent the
darkest parts of the criminal world from dealing marijuana, and
punishes small-time dealers and users.

"The profit lies at the core of everything," said protester Jason
Green. "Large-scale growers and dealers, this is not deterring them.
This is going to increase their profit margins. The price of cannabis
is going to shoot up."

Green said that in the United States, where the War on Drugs began,
marijuana is the same price as cocaine.

"You put more profit in it, it perpetuates more people dealing," he
added.

"Bill C-26 is trying to make marijuana more illegal than it already
is. There are more important things they should be worrying about --
like the coke and heroin dealers that are killing people -- than
marijuana, which doctors prescribe to help people feel better," said
protester Kristin Swenson.

One protester, who identified himself only as Mike, said he turned to
growing his own plants to avoid buying it from a dealer.

"(Marijuana) is a stepping-stone because of having to go to an illegal
drug user where you are within arms reach of all the other narcotics,"
he said.

Under the proposed amendments, Mike said he would face the same
sentence for the few plants that he grows for personal use, as a
person with a larger operation who actually intends to sell.

Other critics point to the fact that some of the aggravating factors
are open to immense interpretation, such as what constitutes
trafficking, what constitutes an area frequented by minors, and what
constitutes a public safety hazard.

Scheer insists that the proposed amendments target organized crime and
violent offenders. Offenders who are caught with weapons would face a
minimum sentence of one year.

"It's aimed at the darker element of the drug trade," he said, adding
the bill does offer those convicted of a drug offence, who do not fall
under the aggravating factors, may be given the option of seeking
treatment to reduce their sentences.

However, protesters aren't convinced.

"If mandatory minimum sentences really helped prevent crimes, the U.S.
would be the safest nation in the world, but it's not. What makes us
think these draconian measures will have better results in (Canada)?"
said protester Pete Jacobson.