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Newsbrief:
Canadian
Cities
Federation
Stays
Firm
in
Support
of
Cannabis
Decrim
9/12/03
The Federation of Canadian
Municipalities (http://www.fcm.ca), which
for more than a century has been the national voice for Canada's town and
city governments, last week reaffirmed its position in favor of cannabis
decriminalization. The move came as the FCM rejected efforts by drug
war hardliners to pass a resolution condemning the lessening of penalties
for marijuana possession. The Liberal government of Prime Minister
Jean Chretien has proposed legislation that would result in the decriminalization
of simple marijuana possession, and the failed resolution is part of the
political reaction to that move.
Ed Renaud, the mayor of Tecumseh,
Ontario, introduced the hardline resolution, telling an FCM conference
in Windsor that the federation's position sent a message to traffickers
and drug users that Canada was "wide open." Allowing marijuana smokers
to indulge in peace would facilitate drug use, he told the Windsor Star.
"You can't just target sellers and producers, you also have to target users
if you want to discourage drug use," he said.
But the FCM's crime and public
safety committee squelched the resolution, choosing not to send it on to
the FCM board for further debate. In the committee, members took
pains to make clear that they support a strong stand against grow operators
and traffickers, but wanted an end to criminal penalties against small-time
offenders. "I believe we need to focus police resources and budgets
towards producers and sellers and away from those who possess small amounts
for their own use," said Richmond Hill deputy mayor Brenda Hogg.
One proponent of the anti-pot
resolution, Windsor Councillor Bill Marra, warned that decriminalization
could lead to a Yankee invasion. "It could become a huge problem
in this city as many Americans will undoubtedly take advantage of relaxed
legislation in this area," said Marra. Yes, increasing American tourism
to Canada would be bad.
The FCM voted in 1997 to
oppose the legalization of cannabis, but in reaffirming that stand earlier
this year, it also urged the Canadian government to pursue "alternative
judicial measures for the possession of cannabis for first time offenders
not associated with another criminal act" -- in other words, decriminalization.
-- END --
|
Issue #302, 9/12/03
Oops! -- "Killer
Ecstasy" Study Retracted, NIDA Credibility on the Line, RAVE Act Still
Law |
Marijuana
as Budget Saver? Study Looks at Implications of Legalization in Massachusetts |
Current Action
Alerts: Medical Marijuana, Plan Colombia, HEA, Ashcroft's Attack
on Judicial Discretion |
Perry Fund
Accepting Applications for 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 School Years, Providing
Scholarships for Students Losing Aid Because of Drug Convictions |
Newsbrief:
Human Rights Watch Calls California's Anti-Syringe Laws a Violation of
Human Rights, Details Police Harassment of Exchanges |
Arianna Huffington
Speaks at UC Berkeley SSDP-Volunteer-Organized Event |
Newsbrief:
Tommy Chong Sentenced to Nine Months on Bong Charges |
Newsbrief:
This Week's Corrupt Cops Story |
Newsbrief:
West Africa Drug War -- Business As Usual, Except for the Lizards |
Newsbrief:
Canadian Cities Federation Stays Firm in Support of Cannabis Decrim |
Newsbrief:
New Mexico Church Wins Ruling in Ayahuasca Case |
Newsbrief:
Pakistani Prison Officials Call for Different Treatment of Drug Offenders |
Newsbrief:
Dutch Government Seeks to Ban Cops from Enjoying Coffee Shops |
Newsbrief:
Connecticut Democrats to Propose Sentencing Reforms |
The Reformer's
Calendar
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