News (Media Awareness Project) - CN ON: Time To End Prohibition On Pot: Callers |
| Title: | CN ON: Time To End Prohibition On Pot: Callers |
| Published On: | 2010-08-09 |
| Source: | Sudbury Star (CN ON) |
| Fetched On: | 2010-08-10 15:00:18 |
TIME TO END PROHIBITION ON POT: CALLERS
Canadians are mellowing to the idea of legalizing marijuana and
Sudburians are no different, The Sudbury Star's weekly poll shows.
The Star's poll question last week was: "Should the government of
Canada legalize and tax marijuana?" Though a technical glitch
prevented the poll from appearing on The Sudbury Star's web-site, all
but one of the 11 callers to The Star's hotline -- 674-STAR (7827) --
agreed it's time to end the prohibition on pot.
Several national polls since 2003 have found a majority of Canadians
agree with legalizing the use of marijuana. The latest was a 2009
Angus Reid poll showing 53% of Canadians favoured legalization.
Superior and appellate courts in Ontario have repeatedly declared
Canada's marijuana laws to be of no force and effect. However,
challenges to marijuana laws at the federal level have not compelled
the federal government to change laws and police and prosecution
services across Canada continue to pursue criminal charges for
marijuana possession.
Sudburians, however, say it's time to back off criminalizing pot
possession.
"Yes, I think our jails and our law enforcement officials are too busy
dealing with this," one caller said. "Those resources should be
focused on other crimes."
"Yes, if the Canadian government wants to get out of deficit, it
should" legalize and tax marijuana, another caller said.
"Yes, I think the government needs the money," another
said.
Another caller agreed with the rest, but said Canadians are already
overtaxed, especially for vices.
"I don't believe marijuana should be legalized and taxed, because it
just shouldn't be taxed," one caller said. "Legalize the stuff, but
don't tax it. We already pay income tax and sales tax on everything we
buy. We should consider getting rid of the tertiary sin tax that we
apply to every sort of perceived vice. That would relieve a lot stress
on people."
One caller said the laws are fine as they are.
"No, I firmly believe this will just open up a whole new set of
problems," the caller said.
Canadians are mellowing to the idea of legalizing marijuana and
Sudburians are no different, The Sudbury Star's weekly poll shows.
The Star's poll question last week was: "Should the government of
Canada legalize and tax marijuana?" Though a technical glitch
prevented the poll from appearing on The Sudbury Star's web-site, all
but one of the 11 callers to The Star's hotline -- 674-STAR (7827) --
agreed it's time to end the prohibition on pot.
Several national polls since 2003 have found a majority of Canadians
agree with legalizing the use of marijuana. The latest was a 2009
Angus Reid poll showing 53% of Canadians favoured legalization.
Superior and appellate courts in Ontario have repeatedly declared
Canada's marijuana laws to be of no force and effect. However,
challenges to marijuana laws at the federal level have not compelled
the federal government to change laws and police and prosecution
services across Canada continue to pursue criminal charges for
marijuana possession.
Sudburians, however, say it's time to back off criminalizing pot
possession.
"Yes, I think our jails and our law enforcement officials are too busy
dealing with this," one caller said. "Those resources should be
focused on other crimes."
"Yes, if the Canadian government wants to get out of deficit, it
should" legalize and tax marijuana, another caller said.
"Yes, I think the government needs the money," another
said.
Another caller agreed with the rest, but said Canadians are already
overtaxed, especially for vices.
"I don't believe marijuana should be legalized and taxed, because it
just shouldn't be taxed," one caller said. "Legalize the stuff, but
don't tax it. We already pay income tax and sales tax on everything we
buy. We should consider getting rid of the tertiary sin tax that we
apply to every sort of perceived vice. That would relieve a lot stress
on people."
One caller said the laws are fine as they are.
"No, I firmly believe this will just open up a whole new set of
problems," the caller said.
Member Comments |
No member comments available...
