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Newsbrief:
Legalize
It,
Says
Canada's
National
Post
7/18/03
In a July 11 editorial, Canada's
National Post newspaper called for the legalization of marijuana under
the headline "Legalize Pot." Aside from the Toronto Globe & Mail,
the Post is the only Canadian newspaper considered to have a national reach.
The newspaper had supported Prime Minister Chretien's marijuana decriminalization
proposal, the editorial noted, but the current medical marijuana snafu
-- because of repeated court rulings, the Canadian federal government finds
itself in the uncomfortable position of being forced to distribute medical
marijuana in order to avoid the collapse of its marijuana laws -- has led
the Post to the conclusion that decriminalization isn't enough.
"Outright legalization may
be in order," the Post editorialized. "Ottawa finds itself in the
strange position of being a de facto pot dealer. This status quo
cannot last," not because that would be morally wrong, but because it conflicts
with the Post's free market ideology. "Marijuana is a chemically
complex substance and only a free-market solution can supply therapeutic
users with the variety and quality they seek. Second, it seems wrong
as a matter of economics for the federal government to be a drug industry
monopolist -- just as it is wrong for provincial governments in Ontario,
Quebec, British Columbia and elsewhere to be booze industry monopolists.
When the state gets involved in the sale of state-regulated substances,
inefficiencies and conflicts of interest inevitably abound. In the
long run, it makes more sense for pot to be treated like tobacco or prescription
drugs -- regulated, but not sold by, the government."
It is the issue of medical
marijuana that has led to the possibility of legalization, opined the Post.
"First, the issue of therapeutic marijuana has created a sense of urgency
in regard to drug reform: It is inhumane to deprive AIDS and cancer
sufferers of an effective means of pain relief for a day longer than necessary.
Second, by bringing a sympathetic, politically active class of marijuana
smokers into the public spotlight, therapeutic marijuana has helped debunk
the image of pot users as Cheech and Chong-style stoners.
"The result is that public
acceptance of marijuana is increasing and even decriminalization now appears
inadequate as a reform measure. Hopefully, this change in attitude
will soon translate into political action. We look forward to the
day when pot decriminalization gives way to pot legalization."
Read the complete editorial
online at:
http://www.nationalpost.com/commentary/story.html?id=4E238EAB-3FC3-4E29-B946-6735A7D9CFD5
-- END --
|
Issue #296, 7/18/03
Editorial: Tragic Confusion |
Medical Marijuana Eroding Capitol Hill Prohibition Consensus -- Democrats Also On Attack against Drug Czar, Drug War in General |
With Hip-Hopper's Support, NY Governor Tries Again on Rockefeller Law Reform -- Not Good Enough, Say Critics |
Bush, Ashcroft Ask Supreme Court for Permission to Punish Doctors Who Recommend Medical Marijuana |
DRCNet Book Review: "Bad Neighbor Policy: Washington's Futile War on Drugs in Latin America," by Ted Galen Carpenter (2003, Palgrave Macmillan, $24.95) |
Newsbrief: North Carolina Prosecutor Charges Methamphetamine Cook with Terrorist Offense |
Newsbrief: Whites Benefit from California's Proposition 36 Disproportionately, UCLA Study Finds |
Newsbrief: No Needle Exchange in Delaware -- Lack of Political Support Cited |
Newsbrief: Colombian Supreme Court Blocks President's Effort to Recriminalize Drug Possession |
Newsbrief: Brazil to Cooperate in Andean Drug Plane Shoot-Down Strategy |
Newsbrief: Peru to Modify Drug Penalties -- One Step Forward, One Step Back, Some Standing in Place |
Newsbrief: Legalize It, Says Canada's National Post |
Newsbrief: This Week's Corrupt Cop Story |
Web Scan: CEDRO, Foreign Policy, Reason, Nation, Working for Change, Washington Post, Molly Ivins, usfumigation.org, UN Report, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sentencing Project |
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