decrimminalization in CANADA!

[Benny Beanstalk]

I was in driver's ed. today and the topic drifted from drunk driving to 'THC'. My teacher talked about how we should see the decrimminalization of marijuana in the next 5 - 10 years. But first we need to get the research done to devellop a marijuana test, that can be exercised easily by police to prevent driving while intoxication. He also said it would have probably have been done about a decade ago, if it wasn't for the 'emotionallity' the U.S. has towards drugs (in fact in some states, possession charges are higher the murder charges... according to him, so don't quote me on it). Nothing against the U.S. but I'd have to agree with him there. So c'mon USA, mellow out!

The law he talked about was that you could possess up to 30 grams, or something, without something, or something else... I zoned out around that point, bu I'm positvie it had to with something!

I want to hear if anyone knows more about this prop., i'm finding it pretty cool

[Monoxide]

well, if that happens......

Canada here I come!

[mrdevious]

It's not going to happen while the conersavites are in power, that's for sure. Honestly I'm not holding my breath, I think our best bet is that now the BC NDP (where I live) wants to legalize it, and them and the Liberals always go back and forth in whos running the province.

[Benny Beanstalk]

i agree too... it's a shame i can't vote and my parents are newly conservatives, but they vote on their own intrests.

i thought up a voting system in canda that would be ideal, and would probably let marijuana be legalized easier.

you vote on which ever party you want... on a sheet, all of them will be there (small parties, big parties, all) you picked the party you wish to be in power, then all the votes will be added (all parties), divide by the number of seats in parlement (i think it's like 250). that number will be divided again by the number of votes each party gets and that number will be the number of seats in parlement they get. (i know most will have decimals and you cant have party members sharing seats, haven't thought to resolve that, but it is a simple issue). next it is up to the parties to fill their own seats, obviously picking the ones that best represent what that party wants (like what you would vote for) so that we get the best politicians from the parties and so that people in rural communities have the chance to vote for parties that would not normally run in their area, like the marijuana party.

any questions? i'll answer them. i feel as if this system is fool proof... so prove me wrong

[andruejaysin]

But first we need to get the research done to devellop a marijuana test, that can be exercised easily by police to prevent driving while intoxication.They have one, it's called the field sobriety test. Walking a straight line, touching your nose, saying the alphabet backwards, all that shit.

[Benny Beanstalk]

yea, that's true, but that isn't accurate at all. i think my teacher was thinkin along the lines of a breathalizer type thing, but for weed. he said they do already can do salvia tests, but they're not accuarate. they can do blood tests to, but that's not practical for a police officer being given the right to draw blood from you.

[CaseyJones13]

Tthe US has 12 states that have already decriminalized pot. We also have Denver, the only city that it is legal to possess no more than 28g of pot, along with amendment 44, which hopefully is going to pass which would actually legalize the possesion of 1 ounce in colorado, not just decriminalize. And if I remember correctly Ccanada is already decriminalized, but not legalized. There is a huge difference. Decriminalization is no mandatory jail time for first time offenders. Thats all it means. Legalization actually allows a person or persons to have pot in their possession, but for personal use only. Distribution, and growing are illegal no matter what. Thats what we really need to figure out how to change becuase how are you suppose to possess and ounce if you cant buy or grow it?

[Hardcore Newbie]

They've been talking about decriminalizing it here (Canada) for at least 25 years now, and it's always been "In another 5 years or so". Don't be suprised if in about 5 years it's "5-10 years from now" talk.

[cannabis=freedom]

Canada (and the rest of the world) needs to wake up and recognize weed as a magical and beautiful thing that it is a crime to make illegal in any way (including grow-ops).

[Pinhole_Stars]

They have one, it's called the field sobriety test. Walking a straight line, touching your nose, saying the alphabet backwards, all that shit.

But you can do all that when you're stoned.

[Markass]

If they can't come up with a test to prove that someone is intoxicated by marijuana, doesn't that mean that we don't exhibit any eminent signs of intoxication? So why is it a problem? I can drive a hell of a lot better if I'm stoned.

[deftdrummer]

I was just about to say something like that Markass. I dont have the statistics to show cause they don't exist yet, but I would be willing to bet that if weed were legalized there would be very few motor vehicle accidents related to it, just because so many people smoke already and is there any way to attribute wrecks to marijuana now? no.

[MotleyCrueBoy24]

Drug Charges USED to be just as high as Murder Charges. Not any more. Even the highest proponents for it remaining illegal think that is irrational.

[surreys princess]

just wanted to momentarily chime in here....

i think it is definately directly correlated with the united states and their "anti drug" war/propoganda...according to them, weed funds all terrorism, no?! lol...

i would love to see it decriminalized here, but it is so hard with so many white house lackies we have in canadas government, ie harper....we are slowly begining to go our own way here in canada and drift away from the US and their policies, thanks to bush and his politics, so maybe one day, we will be able to distance ourselves enough to make a stand...until then, we are stuck in the white house....my regards mr harper....

princess, an american that escaped bush to the safety of canada....long live the cannucks and tragically hip!!

[freewheelinfrank]

I've been told some of the local cops here in northern California, carry a small flashlight-type thingie, somehow it measures the amount of pupil dilation on a motorist, then they can charge you with driving under the influence of drugs - I haven't seen it myself, but have been assured it's in use

[FUNKNUGGET]

Tthe US has 12 states that have already decriminalized pot


I do not beleive ythis is correct.

[OniEhtRedrum781]

That'll always be the dream...

[MacWQ33]

I do not beleive ythis is correct.

It's 100% correct.

State By State Laws - NORML (http://norml.com/index.cfm?wtm_view=&Group_ID=4516)

[harris7]

It's 100% correct.

State By State Laws - NORML (http://norml.com/index.cfm?wtm_view=&Group_ID=4516)

Drug regulation is under federal jurisdiction. So cannabis is illegal everywhere in the US under federal law. It can be decriminalized under state law, but that doesnâ??t mean much.

I Do Not Support Decriminalization. It is a very poor model. IMO it is worse than what we have not, except that us users wont get in trouble. But it is worse for society.

What we want is legalization.

[MacWQ33]

I was just showing him that he was wrong either way. The federal gov. never gets involved anyway with the under an ounce stuff...so yes it does mean much lol...there are 12 states that have decriminalized under an ounce of marijuana...it's a fact. Wtf are you saying? It's definitely better for society...I don't think you even know what you are talking about lol.

[harris7]

First of all, decriminalization does not mean legal. You still get tickets when caught under decriminalization. You donâ??t get charged under Criminal law, you get charged under civil law.

This change does benefit the user in some ways, and harms them in others.
In one important way the user will not have a criminal record.
But, it is Much Much easier to get charged under civil law. So eventually more people will get charged.

Furthermore the level of necessary proof is significantly lower under civil law. Under criminal law you must be proven guilty without a reasonable doubt.
In civil it is â??the balance of probabilitiesâ?�. IE. Who ever has a better argument!

So, more people will be charged and more people will be found guilty! (bad)

Another important point is that the process in Civil vs criminal are different.
In criminal you will get a jury But in Civil you only get a jury if you could get jail time of 2 years less a day. So now when your in court the power to punish isnâ??t in your peers. It will rest with a judge who is very influenced by political pressures.



Growing cannabis will remain 100% illegal and may carry higher penalties, following the argument â??were not going after the user, only the supplier)

So, no more people will grow their own dope. This will further entrench our societies dependence on Gang produced weed, which brings enormous harm to society.

Now do you understand?

[MacWQ33]

Spout off all the bullshit that I'm not even going to bother reading you want. Give me a ticket anyday over probation ($100..fine with me..even though 95% of officers won't even bother with that). Doesn't effect me anyway..so I don't give a fuck. I smoke walking down the street anyway. Legalization might happen in a long time or never in our lifetime. For now...decriminalization is better than having a possession charge on your record and being drug tested. It's not something to go out on a limb over (unless you're like an activist or something, then cool)...it's simple...like I said with decriminalization...no ones even going to waste there time...it's the lowest priority for law enforcement...good stuff.

All I said anyway...was the person up above was right about the 12 states being decriminalized. I never said if it's good or bad...frankly I don't give a shit..but I think it's good.

[wheresthebongski]

decriminalization in canada means nothing! my best friend got arrested (under the liberals,who were supposed to be for marijuana?) and they wanted to put him on 3 years probation unless he went to drug councelling. for his first fucking offence!

in amsterdam its technically illegal, but the police and government tolerate it.. that makes much more sense.

whats it like in other major canadian cities? toronto and montreal seem pretty chillin with smoking herb