Pubdate: Wed, 02 Mar 2011 Source: Intelligencer, The (CN ON) Copyright: 2011, Osprey Media Group Inc. Contact: http://www.intelligencer.ca/feedback1/LetterToEditor.aspx Website: http://www.intelligencer.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2332 Author: Luke Hendry MORE OPPOSITION NEEDED FOR DRUG BILL: ACTIVISTS Bill S-10 Panned As "Ideological" Court-Clogging Move Polite, educated opposition is the best way to fight a proposed federal drug law amendment, marijuana activists said Tuesday in Belleville. About 30 people filled The Studio cafe on Front Street for a panel discussion on the negatives of Bill S-10. The Penalites for Organized Drug Crime Act would implement mandatory prison terms for certain drug charges and "special penalties" if the crimes target youth or IS conducted by organized crime. It cleared the Canadian senate in December but is pending final approval in the House of Commons. Tuesday's meeting was part of a national tour by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) in Canada. "You remove discretion from the judges in deciding how to proceed, and that's dangerous. Each case is unique," said Marc-Boris St-Maurice, NORML Canada's executive director. "Public opinion is very much in our favour," St-Maurice said. " There are already laws against organized crime. Why don't we use those laws and actually go after these people?" St-Maurice said. "It's easier to put something out for your ideological purposes and then spin it for some convenient political purpose. "This is just not going to solve those problems." He said the bill would deter only small-time growers of pot because organized criminals are "the only ones who would risk" stiffer penalties. Local activist Gary Magwood said he helped organize the meeting in part because of the "staggering" hypocrisy of government. Marijuana, he said, "is being used in the mainstream" and not simply by those attending the meeting. He said he's concerned Bill S10 is "absolute insanity." He said it would clog the courts, cause " staggering costs" for new prisons, and destroy the lives of teens. Those who face a minor pot possession charge might be jailed and emerge with a criminal record, making it difficult for them to find work, Magwood said. A bust on a minor charge "breeds contempt for the law and establishments," StMaurice said. " My big concern is that ... Canadians are just sitting back and saying, ' OK,'" said Magwood. Three Belleville Police officers, who were observing from the street, were invited inside, where they listened quietly. They later reported no problems with the gathering. Both St-Maurice and Magwood said the public must speak up to oppose the bill. StMaurice said opposition should be polite and understanding, not confrontational. "If 100,000 potheads joined the Conservative Party we may actually see a shift in what's going on." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.