Pubdate: Thu, 31 Jun 2001
Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2001 Hacker Press Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.abbynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155
Author: Hubert Beyer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

TIME TO WAVE GOOD BYE TO JANEY CANUCK

When Joe Clark, the Conservative leader, starts calling for the 
decriminalization of marijuana, the time has definitely come.

Alan Rock, the justice minister, doesn't go quite as far but he, too, says 
it's time for a frank discussion about whether Canada's marijuana laws are 
outdated.

This sudden preoccupation with the question of whether the possession of 
marijuana ought to be legalized or just decriminalized has a reason: Last 
year, the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled that an outright ban on marijuana 
is inconsistent with the principles of justice.

The court didn't strike down the law, but allowed for one year to appeal 
its decision, rewrite it or scrap it altogether. Lack of response will 
strike down the law.

Some argue in favour of outright legalization. They can point to strong 
public support.

Yet, prudence may dictate a less drastic change. Legalization would 
necessitate detailed preparations. Like with alcoholic beverages and 
tobacco products, somebody would have to be given the green light to grow 
the stuff.

Next comes the question of who should sell it.

And last but not least, Canadian politicians will undoubtedly keep an eye 
on American reaction. Outright legalization would enrage the U.S. 
government, which is determined to continue the war on drugs that was lost 
a long time ago.

When all is said and done, the more rational choice for Canada is 
decriminalization, which has been supported in other polls by close to 80 
per cent of respondents.

There is also increasing evidence that marijuana use is far less harmful 
than those pushing the buttons in the war on drugs  would have had us believe.

It is estimated that more than 600,000 Canadians have received criminal 
records for simple possession of marijuana, most of them in the past 20 years.

It is ludicrous at best and obscene at worst that people still get criminal 
records for doing what 80 per cent of the Canadian public says should be 
decriminalized.

It was in 1920 that an Edmonton woman, writing under the pen name Janey 
Canuck, first warned Canadians about "marahuana." Seven years later, Canada 
outlawed its use.

Janey was a prolific and sensationalist writer, not only on the evils of 
marijuana, but on the dangers of non-white immigrants.

She wrote of "the lowest classes of yellow and black men," and "this 
sallow, unsmiling Oriental." What a broad.

Canadians may know her better as Emily Murphy, the first woman judge in the 
British Empire, and one of the "the famous five who in 1929 won a judgment 
from the British Privy Council that declared women were indeed persons 
under the British North America Act, and therefore entitled to sit in the 
Senate."

Researchers for the LeDain Commission on the Non-Medical Use of Drugs 
reported in 1973: "Her writings were extremely influential in shaping 
Canadian drug laws," and many of her "original proposals are still 
reflected in our narcotics legislation."

I say it's time to revisit the law that Janey Canuck inspired with her 
mean-spirited and sensationalist writings.

With the majority of Canadians nodding approval, it shouldn't be too 
difficult even for those politicians who always have one eye on re-election 
to come out in favour of decriminalizing marijuana.
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MAP posted-by: GD