POT LAWS OUTDATED

Canada enacted legislation in 1923 to protect against a new, dangerous and
evil drug which was thought to have the power to destroy the fabric of our
society. Draconian sentencing laws were imposed that would imprison a
marijuana grower or distributor for much, if not all, of his life.

These laws were kept intact until 1998, when the federal cabinet decided
not all of the marijuana plant was dangerous and allowed the cultivation
and distribution of what is now called hemp, without the threat of a life
sentence. Two years later, our courts determined marijuana had great
therapeutic value and forced our government to legalize its medical use.
Justice Minister Martin Cauchon has now determined that recreational use is
not dangerous or evil, and deserves the same penalty as a minor traffic
infraction.

Cannabis now is deemed economically sound for industrial applications,
medically beneficial and recreationally safe, yet pot production and
distribution still carry the severe penalties enacted when cannabis was
thought to be a threat to our entire society.

The federal government, by not supplying or allowing the supply to the
medical and recreational pot markets, yet opening those markets up, is
increasing the demand for a substance which can and will be met with an
illegal supply.

The prison living unit in which I now reside houses six prisoners, three of
us here for cannabis offences. Current federal pot policies will skew that
ratio much higher. Our federal politicians must have the courage to admit
the laws have been wrong for the past 80 years and end the prohibition.

Mike Patriquen

Sackville

Marijuana Party of Canada