News (Media Awareness Project) - CN BC: Editorial: Hitting Pot Holes |
| Title: | CN BC: Editorial: Hitting Pot Holes |
| Published On: | 2003-06-05 |
| Source: | Richmond Review, The (CN BC) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-20 05:03:43 |
HITTING POT HOLES
Ottawa's proposed new laws on marijuana are obscured in clouds of smoke, as
the government spins its wheels trying to go in two directions at the same
time.
On one hand, the laws decriminalize simple possession of marijuana. Getting
caught with less than 15 grams of pot would result in a ticketed fine
ranging anywhere from $100 to $400, depending on age and circumstances. The
offender would not appear in court, or receive a criminal record.
Justice Minister Martin Cauchon says the revised laws do not mean the
federal government is encouraging marijuana use. In fact, he says the
message is the opposite, since in the past simple possession of pot often
resulted in just a warning from police. Most police officers and many
parents remain unconvinced of the "new" message, insisting a ticket is no
deterrent.
Meanwhile, Cauchon's new legislation contradicts itself by coming down
harder on grow operations. Punishment would range from one year in jail or
a fine for three plants or less, to a maximum of 14 years for 50 or more
plants. The latter is about double the present maximum penalty (which is
rarely, if ever, applied).
With tougher penalties (assuming the courts use them), the risk of growing
pot also increases. This may translate into higher costs for the organized
gangs behind most marijuana grow ops.
If demand continues to be high, and pot prices are jacked up to absorb
increased costs, along with a commensurate percentage of additional profit,
it's possible Ottawa's new laws will cause pot cultivation to become even
more outrageously lucrative than it already is.
One of the most intelligent and comprehensive studies of the marijuana
issue in Canada is The Report of the Special Senate Committee on Drug Use:
Cannabis, released last year. The committee reached these conclusions:
There are really only two basic policies on marijuana--prohibition and
legalization. The former clearly doesn't work, and decriminalization is a
weak and confused version of prohibition.
The Liberals ought to go back and read that report.
Ottawa's proposed new laws on marijuana are obscured in clouds of smoke, as
the government spins its wheels trying to go in two directions at the same
time.
On one hand, the laws decriminalize simple possession of marijuana. Getting
caught with less than 15 grams of pot would result in a ticketed fine
ranging anywhere from $100 to $400, depending on age and circumstances. The
offender would not appear in court, or receive a criminal record.
Justice Minister Martin Cauchon says the revised laws do not mean the
federal government is encouraging marijuana use. In fact, he says the
message is the opposite, since in the past simple possession of pot often
resulted in just a warning from police. Most police officers and many
parents remain unconvinced of the "new" message, insisting a ticket is no
deterrent.
Meanwhile, Cauchon's new legislation contradicts itself by coming down
harder on grow operations. Punishment would range from one year in jail or
a fine for three plants or less, to a maximum of 14 years for 50 or more
plants. The latter is about double the present maximum penalty (which is
rarely, if ever, applied).
With tougher penalties (assuming the courts use them), the risk of growing
pot also increases. This may translate into higher costs for the organized
gangs behind most marijuana grow ops.
If demand continues to be high, and pot prices are jacked up to absorb
increased costs, along with a commensurate percentage of additional profit,
it's possible Ottawa's new laws will cause pot cultivation to become even
more outrageously lucrative than it already is.
One of the most intelligent and comprehensive studies of the marijuana
issue in Canada is The Report of the Special Senate Committee on Drug Use:
Cannabis, released last year. The committee reached these conclusions:
There are really only two basic policies on marijuana--prohibition and
legalization. The former clearly doesn't work, and decriminalization is a
weak and confused version of prohibition.
The Liberals ought to go back and read that report.
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