Pubdate: Thu, 16 Jan 2003
Source: Carillon (CN SN Edu)
Copyright: 2003, The Carillon
Contact:  http://ursu.uregina.ca/~carillon/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2155

POSSESSION LIMIT SEEN TOO HIGH

Public Input Eyed On Law

Provencher MP Vic Toews will be seeking the opinions of constituents before 
deciding on his final position on a House of Commons committee report on 
the decriminalization of marijuana.

The committee's main recommendation is that marijuana possession should be 
decriminalized in cases involving up to 30 grams, meaning that it would 
remain an offence punishable by a fine but would not result in a criminal 
record.

Toews has sent over 300 letters to church leaders, school trustees, MLAs 
and other community leaders.

"This is a matter that should rightly be resolved in Parliament only after 
the elected members have heard from the people they represent," he commented.

Toews noted the proposed 30-gram limit is five times greater than the 
amount permitted by the liberal drug laws in Holland. Many people have 
expressed the concern that because 30 grams of marijuana amounts to 
approximately 40-50 marijuana cigarettes, it will be difficult for police 
to determine if the drug is being kept for personal use, or for the 
purposes of trafficking.

The Canadian Alliance members on the Commons drug committee disagreed with 
the Liberal majority, stating that while all use and possession of 
marijuana must remain illegal, only amounts less than five grams should be 
decriminalized. Furthermore the Canadian Alliance report maintained that 
the sale of any amount of marijuana must remain a criminal offence and that 
all fine payments must be vigorously enforced.

Canadian Alliance members also expressed concern about the lack of any 
effective roadside evaluation tools to determine whether motorists are 
impaired by drugs in their ability to drive.

"Studies have demonstrated that marijuana use by motorists presents a 
significant safety concern. It is important that the Liberals take steps to 
ensure that the lives of innocent victims using our highways are protected 
if they proceed with laws that may result in greater accessibility to this 
drug," Toews added.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D