Pubdate: Tue, 28 Oct 2003
Source: London Free Press (CN ON)
Copyright: 2003 The London Free Press a division of Sun Media Corporation.
Contact:  http://www.lfpress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/243
Author: Darryl Slywchuk, Ailsa Craig

ANTI-POT ARGUMENTS JUST A LOT OF SMOKE

Recently, claims have been made by MPs in the House of Commons that Canada 
cannot decriminalize marijauna, as it would breach our obligations to the 
United Nations. This is clearly nonsense.

All international treaties allow signatory nations to determine their own 
drug policy. The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1960, specifically 
states "the parties may choose to impose minor penalties such as fines or 
even censure," as does the International Convention on Trafficking.

To suggest that decriminalization violates international law is a specious 
argument generated solely to give credence to the government's 
back-pedalling on its previously stated position of decriminalization, 
which may be attributed to pressure from the American zealots.

Darryl Slywchuk

Ailsa Craig
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman