May 27, 2003
Hooray!
Those who know me from my activist days in Canada know about my dislike of the Liberal party up there. To me it is much easier and better for the sheep to fight the wolf while he/she is still in his/her wolf appearance and Canada's Liberals are the same wolf, dressed like a sheep. More on that later.
However, even the wolves deserve credit when they do something right.
I must preface this by admitting to my own considerable lack of coolness in stating that I have never personally inhaled. Not that I'm bragging, but I grew up in a different set of circumstances and my concerns at the time when "fun" should have been a priority were other things. With that in mind, I applaud Jean Chretien's government for having the necessary gall to put forward legislation to decriminalize pot.
It takes great chutzpah to swim against the tide and ruffle some feather, and Liberals known for the lack of such qualities, have for once showed there may be hope for them afterall. Well, at least some of them, maybe.
Now only if they could do the same with prostitution.... I know, I'm dreaming again. Sorry!
Posted by Pedram at May 27, 2003 11:46 PMOn the (Canadian) radio this morning I heard Chretien was taking heat because it is still illegal to grow, buy or sell pot. Seems if it spontaneously generates in your pocket it's ok to keep it though. ;-)
Posted by: Dave at May 28, 2003 05:18 AMpedram,
i agree with you that the decriminalization of pot is a positive step.
however, i'm not sure that the bill really indicates anything about the liberals' emerging 'chutzpah'.
in the great liberal tradition of blowing with the wind, i think chretien is merely following public opinion on this. for a number of years now, the public has overwhelmingly supported decriminalization (so much so that even the canadian senate, hardly a revolutionary committee, recommended decriminalization.) chretien isn't really "ruffling" too many feathers here.
secondly, many news sources in canada are reporting that the bill will not actually become law any time soon. it seems that, perhaps, it has been draftd merely for symblic value. (so we can all see how hip the liberals actually are!!!)
finally, even if you missed your chance earlier, it's never too late to start inhaling ;-)
k.s.
Posted by: kaveh at May 28, 2003 06:40 AMThis is good news for anyone who likes the odd toke, and it's a positive step. But it will leave the vast majority of the profits in the hands of dangerous criminal gangs. Maybe the tide will turn and complete legalisation will become a more reasonable idea, but then we might be faced with the horrors of buying our spliffs in Marlboro cartons...
Posted by: Beatniksalad at May 28, 2003 09:24 AMThe only thing weed is a gateway to is a damn good time!
Posted by: Reza at May 28, 2003 09:27 AMHi, I fully agree with the decriminalisation of pot as well as prostution. Where I live (here in Australia) in most states you can grow pot at home and use it (at home). It is legal only for _personal_ use – although one’s description of ‘personal use’ could be subject to interpretation. As for prostution, it is kept to brothels which make streets free of bad traffic. Hope the Canadian government sees sense too.
Posted by: Haleh at May 28, 2003 12:02 PMLets see, the government is decriminalising a drug whose principal effect is to induce apathy in those who partake...hmmmm, welcome to a brave new world!
Posted by: joe at May 28, 2003 07:46 PM
pedram, is this a case of 'i smoked but i did not inhale'?;p
sat through a debate once where a speaker on the opposition spoke about 'lifting the illicit penumbra of illegality' by legalizing pot. think that's just a fancy argument though.
incidentally, here in singapore, where chewing gum is banned, prostitution has been legalised and regulated- with regular checks on the sex workers. i think that makes a lot of sense. i could forgive the chewing gum...
Decriminalize pot? IMHO what a sad state of affairs that would cause. Ditto prostitution.
Can't see it.Not a good idea.
God forbid this happens here(U.S.).
We've got enough problems.
You're entitled to your own opinion but
Have you given this much thought-the consequences?