Pubdate: Sun,  1 Jun 2003
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2003, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.fyiedmonton.com/htdocs/edmsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135
Author: Tracy Ohrt 
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor, headline by Newshawk.

DOUBLE STANDARD?

I FIND it laughable that federal Justice Minister Martin Cauchon qualifies
the new legislative initiative to decriminalize marijuana possession by
saying that it is not reasonable for marijuana users in Canada to suffer a
criminal record for a "mistake" in not following the law. Somehow, I don't
think the government will apply this reasoning anywhere else. That
especially makes me angry for this double standard. If the police ever
search a home, someone can leave 15 grams worth of marijuana on their
kitchen counter and only get a ticket. I leave a 15-gram box of .22 shells
on my counter and I'm the one who ends up with a criminal record. Maybe what
mistake the government is trying to erase is the memory they gave us of
their lousy leadership over the last 10 years. With the help of their new
friend, herbal smoke, maybe it will be forgotten. I won't be smoking, or
forgetting, however. 

Tracy Ohrt 

(The government seems to be more willing to forget some mistakes than
others.)
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MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk