Pubdate: Mon, 17 May 2004 Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON) Copyright: 2004 The Ottawa Citizen Contact: http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326 Author: Russell Barth Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n724/a08.html Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) LAW DESERVED TO DIE Re: Cannabis Possession Remains A Crime, MAY 14. It is good that the so-called marijuana decriminalization bill is dead. It was designed as a cash grab for police, and by raising the maximum penalty for growing cannabis to a ridiculous 14 years for 50 plants, it would have made illegal grow-ops more lucrative and increased the stakes in the drug war. It would mean that growing pot would become as heavily penalized as violent crimes. The only way to sort this mess out is to legalize, regulate and tax cannabis. Anything less would be criminal. Russell Barth, Ottawa - --- MAP posted-by: Thunder