Pubdate: Fri, 30 May 2003 Source: Kamloops This Week (CN BC) Copyright: 2003 Kamloops This Week Contact: http://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1271 Author: Jim Harrison Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) POT LAW POINTLESS What are Jean Chretien and the gang smoking? They're running a country with a health care crisis, a skills shortage, and a pension plan that may not have enough cash available when the baby boomer generation retires. We have the SARS crisis to deal with, our cattle industry is reeling from its brush with mad cow, and the Americans have taken us to the cleaners on softwood. Instead of dealing with these formidable challenges, and the many others that face our country, the Chretien Liberals are decriminalizing pot. The legislation means it will be okay to have modest amounts of marijuana, and smoke all a person could want. The only criminal act would be to have enough to sell, or to be caught growing the stuff. The crooks are laughing so hard, their bellies are about to split. The market for marijuana when it was a crime to have it was pretty good. Now Ottawa intends to guarantee demand will go through the roof. Organized crime doesn't give a damn about stiffer penalties for production and trafficking, the people are the top are rarely the ones caught. They've just been guaranteed a more lucrative livelihood. If it's a crime to possess more than 15 grams of marijuana, then it should be a crime to possess less. If it's a crime to grow and sell it, it should be a crime to smoke it. Jean Chretien has been searching for a legacy to mark his place in history. Who would have thought he'd settle for an act of monumental stupidity? - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager