Pubdate: Tue, 07 Dec 2004
Source: Peace River Record-Gazette (CN AB)
Copyright: 2004 Peace River Record-Gazette
Contact:  http://www.prrecordgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1232
Author: Jody Pressman
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

MARIJUANA POLL

The Liberal government's policies on marijuana use are out of touch with 
Canadian public opinion. Results of a new national opinion poll show the 
government's proposed marijuana legislation is far behind the curve. Here 
are some highlights:

- - Almost six in ten Canadians say adult Canadians who possess small 
quantities of marijuana for personal use should be left alone.

- - There is significant support in Canada for taxing and regulating 
marijuana. A majority of Canadians say it should be treated the same way as 
wine, beer or spirits.

- -A majority of Canadians say spending hundreds of millions of dollars a 
year to enforce marijuana laws is a poor or very poor use of police resources.

The poll was conducted on behalf of NORML Canada (National Organization for 
the Reform of Marijuana Laws in Canada) by SES Research Inc. between 
October 26 and November 1. The people are way ahead of government on this 
issue because they understand prohibition isn't working now and it never 
will. Taxing and regulating cannabis would generate billions of dollars in 
new revenue for social programs and finally remove the criminal element 
from the sale and distribution of marijuana. NORML Canada calls on the 
Opposition parties to ensure the government's legislation is either amended 
to provide a bill more in line with the views of the voting public or 
defeated altogether.

The government should follow the main recommendations of the Senate 
Committee Report on Marijuana chaired by Senator Pierre-Claude Nolin. It is 
one of the most exhaustive, persuasive and well researched study on the 
subject ever conducted in Canada. The government is pretending it doesn't 
exist because it can't deny the science or the substance of the Nolin 
Committee Report.

The full details on the polling are available on line at www.norml.ca or at 
www.sesresearch.com

Jody Pressman, Executive Director, NORML Canada 
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