Pubdate: Tue, 24 Apr 2001
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2001 The Vancouver Sun
Contact:  http://www.vancouversun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Tim Naumetz
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA, SENATORS TOLD

Canada Has 'Simply Followed' U.S. Policy

OTTAWA - The federal government should take marijuana offences out of the 
Criminal Code and allow the provinces to regulate its use according to 
local cultural demands, a Senate committee heard Monday.

A leading psychologist from Simon Fraser University who has devoted three 
decades to studying drug addiction said it's time Canada developed it's own 
drug polices, independent of the war-on-drugs hype of the United States.

"Canadian policy (on drugs) has simply followed the American policy, lock 
step, from the beginning," Professor Bruce Alexander told a special Senate 
committee that has launched a two-year inquiry into drug policy in Canada.

Another professor, who was a member of the 1969 LeDain Commission into 
drugs, went further, telling the committee Canada should legalize all drugs 
and leave regulations in place to control only the price of drugs, their 
quality and the age of the purchasers.

Marie-Andree Bertrand, now a professor emeritus of criminology at the 
University of Montreal, said millions of Canadians use marijuana, or 
cannabis, and if the law against its possession were rigorously enforced, 
the justice system would collapse.

"What would they do with five million Canadians, if you brought them before 
the courts tomorrow morning?" asked Bertrand.

She argued all drugs must be legalized to avoid an increase in organized 
crime involvement with harder drugs such as cocaine and heroin.

Alexander said research has proved cannabis is no more addictive than many 
other vices, including gambling, alcohol and even sex.
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