Pubdate: Mon, 22 Nov 2004
Source: Kootenay News Advertiser (CN BC)
Copyright: 2004 Kootenay News Advertiser
Contact:  http://www.kootenayadvertiser.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2651
Author: Jim Abbott, MP
Note: Editor prefers to receive letters by email
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing)

MP ABBOTT AND DECRIMINALIZING MARIJUANA

The federal Liberals are proposing decriminalization of marijuana.
This new legislation is not well written. It's basically a carbon copy
of a bill that was introduced in the last Parliament. These proposed
amendments to existing laws were flawed and irresponsible in several
ways previously and the flaws are duplicated in the new law.

I support the concept of eliminating criminal records for minor
marijuana possessions. But, the new legislation would allow for the
decriminalization of up to 30 grams of pot that roughly translates
into 60 joints. This much pot far exceeds any reasonable amount for
personal possession.

Under this proposed law, young people will receive a break through a
lesser fine of $100 while adults are fined $150. This doesn't make
sense. The message to youth should reflect that a penalty is a
deterrent for using marijuana.

Conservative Solicitor General Critic, Randy White said, "Canada
should be telling kids not to smoke pot; instead we're telling kids
you'll just get a fine." I agree. These fines are ridiculously low and
don't increase for subsequent offences. We need structures in place to
force fine payment and it should be mandatory for the RCMP to issue a
summons after a person has received three or more fines - three
strikes and it becomes a criminal offence.

I agree with stiffer fines and jail terms for marijuana grow-ops, but
question why the penalties are still at a judge's choice. I stand
behind mandatory minimum sentences so jail time for those convicted
don't vary at the discretion of a judge.

In my view, the proposed law also doesn't offer anything to address
the problems it will create with the US. American officials have
concerns about Canada being a source of high potency marijuana, which
finds its way across the border. We need to begin discussions with the
US to address and eliminate cross-border issues that are not addressed
in this bill.

During the last Parliament, the Conservative Party and various police
and victims groups made a number of recommendations to improve the
proposed law, which have all been ignored. The Liberal government is
trying to pass seriously flawed legislation that sends the wrong
message about the seriousness of drug offences. Recently, I visited
several high schools in the Kootenay Columbia constituency and the
raised the issue of decriminalizing marijuana.

After discussion the students concluded it wouldn't meet the goal of
decriminalizing marijuana and it will fail to reform enforcement and
backlogs in court related to marijuana related offences. The lucrative
business of marijuana production and trafficking will still be
controlled by criminals while the courts will continue to be backed up
by people challenging their fines. Busting kids for passing around a
joint at a party is also not the answer.

The bill had its first reading in the House of Commons and has been
referred to the committee stage where the Conservative Party and
myself will fight to make changes and improvements.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin