Penalties to double for growing
marijuana
Cauchon to brief U.S. government on proposals
The federal government is, as usual, ignoring public demands for legalization of
marijuana [a property right] and is instead cowering to US demands to
double the
maximum penalty for anyone convicted of growing marijuana.
"For growers the maximum penalty will be 14 years," said staff for the Ministry
of "Justice". "It's going to be tougher, a hell of a lot tougher". There is also
going to be more tax dollars spent on an "enforcement strategy". "Police will be
busting into more peoples houses with guns and dogs at the ready", said a police
source.
Minister Martin Cauchon hurried to Washington to convince the US administration
that growing, distributing and trafficking in marijuana will be treated as a
serious crime in Canada. The US administration had threated "border snarls and
closures" should Canada lessen simple possession of marijuana by making it a
ticketable offence; thus opening the door for the government to plunder more
money in fines - much like they do a traffic violation now.
The proposed law is expected to be tabled in the House of Commons soon, however
officials were still working on the finishing touches last night after
consulting with US Drug Enforcement Agents.
The Federal government is using the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, as an
excuse for their need to fold to US pressure.
PM Jean Chrétien characterised the huge increase in jail time as "modernizing
the sentencing".
Mr. Cauchon was scheduled to brief U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft in
Washington May 16.
Parliament has not yet been given a look at the new legislation, prompting MP
Bill Blaikie to ask "Why this contempt of Parliament?"
Speaker Peter Milliken, however, said he found no breach of parliamentary
privilege in the matter. It's perfectly fine to consult with the US government
in making Canadian law, we've done it many times in the past, and will do so in
the future.
Chrétien said Mr. Cauchon would give Canada's plans to change marijuana laws,
which, he said, will be very similar to the laws in some tougher American
states.
"So the minister's going there, he will explain that," Mr. Chrétien said. "It is
important to communicate when people ask questions."
Mr. Cauchon supported the tough new penalties, stating "We want to make sure we
put in place better penalties that we will be able to enforce," Mr.
Cauchon added that the government wants "to send a better message, as well, that
the use of cannabis is illegal in Canada and remain so."
© Copyright 2003 BC Revolution
Robert Polton
Ottawa to steal grow-op houses
Pot challenge gets high-profile help May 24, 2007
More interference from US drug dealers [Contraband Importing Agency] on pot laws.
U.S. drug czar pushes Canada to get tougher on marijuana
Melissa Arseniuk CanWest News Service - Friday, February 23, 2007 OTTAWA -- American drug czar John Walters wants Canadian officials to crack down on marijuana use, stop the export of "B.C. bud" to the U.S., and co-operate with extradition requests. That tough approach to drugs was tempered somewhat yesterday by the director of the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy, who thanked Canadian officials and law enforcement in Ottawa for their "outstanding co-operation" in the war against drugs. "Today in the United States, more young people are dependent on marijuana than any other illegal drug," he said, adding, "More teens seek treatment for marijuana dependency than all other illegal drugs combined, more than alcohol." However, Walters credited a 23 per cent drop in drug use among American teens to a variety of controversial initiatives, including random marijuana testing of high school students, a practice Liberal Senator Larry Campbell called "ethically repugnant." Walters said the U.S. will be looking to Canada to help crack down on the international flow of drugs -- including the export of marijuana, particularly that which is grown in B.C. People who export drugs to the U.S. from Canada "think the border will either protect them from risk of being arrested, or if they're arrested, they'll face lesser consequences than they would if they were caught in the United States," he said. That means the country will continue asking Canada to extradite its citizens who have been charged with drug-related offences in the U.S. This so-called "war on drugs" serves two main purposes: It increases the value of the drugs they sell through clandestine sale and distribution, by selling confiscated product, or by cooperative agreements with organized crime. It also gives them command and control of that segment of the population that uses their product, by integration into their data networks. This should be a very strong motivation for young people to NOT use drugs. |
Reefer madness: Police state fascism far more dangerous than letting adults smoke pot.
Children Handcuffed In Police Drug Raid - September 20, 2006 Times Union
A police strike team raided a woman's Prospect Street apartment and handcuffed
her children and killed her dog early Tuesday in a $60 pot bust. The woman called
it excessive force and a case of mistaken identity, but officers said they stormed the
home for a good reason: One of her sons was selling marijuana there.
Marijuana Arrests a Matter of Race: Report - WNYC Radio
Pot Penalty Harsher for Minorities - New York Post
U.S. Drug czar calls marijuana growers terrorists - July13/2007
.