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White Slams Bill To Decriminalize Pot Possession.
By admin | November 6, 2004
By Joe Millican
Abbotsford News
Nov. 6, 2004.
Abbotsford MP Randy White has slammed a new federal government bill to decriminalize possession of “small amounts” of marijuana but admits he does not have a solution to the contentious issue.
White has a number of concerns relating to proposed amendments to the Contraventions Act and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act announced by Canadian attorney general Irwin Cotler on Monday.
In particular, he criticizes a plan to make possession of one to 15 grams punishable only by a fine of $150 for adults and $100 for youth aged 12 to 18.
He also says the threat of respective $300 and $200 fines for possession of 15 to 30 grams are too light.
White claims 30 grams of marijuana is the equivalent of approximately 60 joints – more than would be required for personal use.
“Nobody carries that amount unless they are selling it,” White said.
White pointed to a policy in the Netherlands where up to five grams warrants a police dismissal, but anything greater leads to a fine or jail time.
Asked for alternatives to the Liberal plan, White said minimum sentences rather than maximum sentences, which are often not enforced, must be imposed on pot growers.
White also repeated his calls for a national drug strategy which would include marijuana, as well as harder drugs like crystal meth and cocaine.
White, however, was unable to provide a clearcut solution to resolve marijuana issue.
“Do we allow people to smoke small amounts, I don’t know. I am willing to go with the majority here.
“We can’t stop it. But the reason I am not prepared to move is that if we think we will stop organized crime by legalizing it we are kidding ourselves . . . right now I am not prepared to legalize growing and I am not prepared to legalize drugs. I do not have a better answer.”
Under the bill, people carrying “small amounts” of pot would be issued tickets by police, similar to parking tickets.
White criticized this proposal, suggesting it would put an increased burden on police forces. He also said it would be difficult to enforce payment.
Abbotsford marijuana advocate Tim Felger further criticized the bill, saying he would prefer marijuana to be illegal rather than decriminalized.
“The real question is whether (marijuana) prohibition is making society more violent. If it is more violent, is this law really going to help it?”
Felger said there were no provisions made in the bill suggesting where marijuana users could buy their pot, and he said the ticketing system would put a drain on police resources and create a “police state.”
In making his announcement on Monday, Cotler said that under the bill, maximum sentences for pot growing would double to 14 years.
The Government of Canada also believes that while cannabis use must be discouraged, possession of small amounts should not result in a criminal record, Cotler said.
“Cannabis use is harmful and it will remain illegal in Canada. What would change is the approach to enforcement,” the minister added.
Under the new proposals, police officers would offer tickets for the first three possession offences. For subsequent offences, they could either issue a ticket or issue a summons to appear in court.
More specific punishments are also being proposed for growers.
As part of the bill, anyone growing one to three plants would be handed a $500 fine ($250 for youth).
This will be jacked to up to five years in prison for four to 25 plants, 10 years for 26 to 50 plants and up to 14 years for more than 50 plants.
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