Harper opposes legalizing pot

[maplesyrup]

Put this in your pipe and smoke it: Harper opposes legalizing pot

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper said he opposes resurrecting the Liberal plan to decriminalize marijuana.

"I wouldn't bring back that bill. My position is ... marijuana should remain illegal.

What's that expression: "Where there's smoke, there's weed"?

So we have:

Harper who opposes decriminalizing marijuana.

Martin who isn't quite sure about it.

Layton who supports decriminalizing marijuana.

I hope I have that right.

The gloves are now finally starting to come off, and Canadians are starting to be offered clear choices for June 28th, eh?

I am beginning to feel a breeze starting to pick up here.

[caesar]

What else would you expect from Harper; a Bush butt kisser. Our Health system is under attack. Marijuana is a cheap effective medication with much less serious side effects of prescription drugs. Stop wasting money chasing people who use pot and go after the more serious drug problems. In fact, I would even legalize prostitution. Get these people who are performing these "jobs" off our welfare rolls and on our tax paying rolls.

[maplesyrup]

caesar......welcome to mapleleafweb.

[takeanumber]

What else would you expect from Harper; a Bush butt kisser. Our Health system is under attack. Marijuana is a cheap effective medication with much less serious side effects of prescription drugs. Stop wasting money chasing people who use pot and go after the more serious drug problems. In fact, I would even legalize prostitution. Get these people who are performing these "jobs" off our welfare rolls and on our tax paying rolls.

Welcome!

I'm inclined to agree with the "legalize and tax it to death" arguement.

[Slavik44]

well firstly, I wish the media would stop using two completley different terms interchangably, as perhaps then you guys would stop doing the same. The bill is to decriminalize possesion of small amounts of pot, not to legalize it. Look the terms up in a dictionary, they are different. Next Harpers and Martins view is not far off. Martin want's to decriminalize 15 grams (or is it 10 I don't know the exact number) of pot. this in other words would mean if you have under 15 grams you do not go to jail, however you do get fined. Harper leans towards a similar Idea, 5 grams. Which, yes, is less then what Martin is proposing but it is still enough for people to get a few good hoots. Perhaps it keeps small level sales down, I don't know, however his views on this are similar to martin's. So please next time you go on an anti-harper rampage about his positions on pot please read more then the title, and please use the correct words when refering to the subject jsut because the media does it doesn't mean you can. So you guys go ahead and put this in your pipe and smoke it.

[Goldie]

We can look at fines rather than jails terms for possession under five grams," he said in Brantford

What part of this statement is confusing? It is a direct pull from the article linked. So what is the phoney issue being raised here?

Oh ya A mighty wind blows! MS

[maplesyrup]

So please next time you go on an anti-harper rampage about his positions on pot

S44..........please explain how are my comments concerning marijuana are anti-Harper. Thanks.

[caesar]

Marijuana is semi-legalized in BC where we can get it from the pharmacists. I don't believe you need a prescription; just convince the pharmacist that you need it for health reasons. (I don't believe it is being used much; street drug is better and cheaper)

I have much more serious reservations regarding Harper; marijuana is not a big one just irrational not to legalize it when it can benefit many. Recreational users pose less risk to themselves and others than those using alcohol.

Let it be taxed and support our health system.

Let us not forget; Harper would have had us Canadians follow the USA into the unwise, unnecessary invasion of Iraq.

[maplesyrup]

caesar........I agree.

Also if Martin had been PM when Canada was deciding to participate, we may have joined with the US to invade Iraq. Look at the views of our current Defence Minister whom Martin appointed. Apparently Martin avoided taking a position on the Iraq vote when it came up in the House of Commons, or so I have been led to believe. Does someone know how I can look that up in Hansard?

[Argus]

I have much more serious reservations regarding Harper; marijuana is not a big one just irrational not to legalize it when it can benefit many.  Recreational users pose less risk to themselves and others than those using alcohol.

Let it be taxed and support our health system.

Marijuana can benefit many? Correct me if I'm wrong but no medical benefits have ever been proven for this drug. Isn't that correct? Some seriously ill people have claimed that it eases their pain, and it might be that it does. For that reason I'm willing to consider allowing it be prescribed.

As for legalizing it - do we really need more drug avilability? No, I don't think so. I say decriminalize posession of small amounts, mainly because that kind of thing is fairly common and our justice and criminal systems are overburdened as it is. But we do not need grass being smoked openly and sold at the corner store.

A lot of dumbass baby boomers don't seem to realize that the stuff they smoked when they were kids really was grass, or almost. It was pretty weak stuff compared to what's out there now. Legalize it and the price will drop to nothing and every twelve year old will be able to afford a pack.

Let us not forget; Harper would have had us Canadians follow the USA into the unwise, unnecessary invasion of Iraq.

And maybe we'd have taken fewer casualties than in Iraq.

[caesar]

You are wrong. Marijuana has been proven to be very helpful in treating many conditions. Glaucoma and even prevents seizures. The eye drops for glaucoma can be very dangerous for people with poor circulation. My husbands specialist prescribed the glaucoma drops for my husband (who does NOT have glaucoma) it was supposed to be for a short term but he made an error and had him using them for 5 months. His eyes got bulgy, feet were extemely swollen and the skin around the eyes dry and flaking.

It is, also, very useful for cancer patients as it enhances their appetite and eases pain without zonking them out.

[caesar]

I agtree, Maple syrup; Martin may of had us join in the Iraq invasion. He may now join with the USA in some of their dubious policies. I am not real confident in him. Harper was screaming and yelling that we should have been at the side of our American friends in the Iraq invasion. I have read recently that he now claims to have supported Chretien's decision not to join in. Geeesh.

I was a little worried about Chretien, too.

Financially, We may have been better off joining with the American and avoided some of the punishing trade issues from the Bush administration. However, I would see that as short term gain for long term pain. It would destroy and little independence we have left. I believe, Canadians should get busy and find more diversified trading partners and not keep all our eggs in one basket.

I am not happy with ANY of our choices in the next federal election. A minority coalition government may be our best bet.

I do not want to be paying for two working parents day care costs. I would like to see more parents encouraged and enabled to stay home and raise their own children. I think our country would be better served by children bonding more with their parents and learning more values than the almighty buck. This is not meant as a criticism of working parents; I do realize that this is now a necessity for many.

[caesar]

Argus; Here is a website that will confirm many merits of medical marijuana. Following post as I made an error and just found edit function

[caesar]

Sorry, I made an error; that should be: http://www.mapinc.org/letters/2004/04/lte99.html

[Michael Hardner]

Hmmm...

Why isn't he going to call a "free vote" on this one ? Or a referendum ?

Does this count as a "moral issue" ? Who decides ?

I guess Harper does, in the end.

[maplesyrup]

If we are talking about marijuana, Harper probably does not want a free vote on it, or a referendum on the issue, because the current American government, and probably previous American governments, are or were opposed. Welcome to Harpanada, the 51st state.

[caesar]

The real reason for keeping marijuana illegal probably comes from the big drug companies. Marijuana is a much cheaper safer substitute for many expensive prescription drugs.

[Goldie]

If that is the case why haven't they bottled and manufactured their own version? You know, like what they did with opium.

[Slavik44]

So please next time you go on an anti-harper rampage about his positions on pot

S44..........please explain how are my comments concerning marijuana are anti-Harper. Thanks.

actually i wasn;t refering particularly to you, I was refering more to caesar. However please explain to me why you didn;t read my whole post, and why you didn;t read the whoel article

[caesar]

My anti Harper views have nothing to do with marijuana; they have to do with his screaming and yelling that we should have joined our "American Friends" in the invasion of Iraq. Now he tries to say he supported Chretien's decision. I do not want my Canada to become an American territory. I want Canada to be the great country it can be; not following the Americans blindly. American people are our friends and often our relatives but their present leadership is very dangerous and out of control

[CanadaRocks]

Martin want's to decriminalize 15 grams (or is it 10 I don't know the exact number) of pot. this in other words would mean if you have under 15 grams you do not go to jail, however you do get fined. Harper leans towards a similar Idea, 5 grams.

I think its pretty obvious by now that marijuana is heading for legalization, whether an inch at a time, or all at once.

Canadians do have a lot of truly important issues to be addressed, so why was taxpayer dollars and time being wishywashy?

The liberals want to be wishy washy?

The conservatives want to be wishy washy?

Play this out for years maybe? Perhaps wait for another few billion tax dollars go into fighting a losing proposition?

These men don't seem much like leaders, they seem more like beaurocrats who glory in red tape nightmares.

Decriminalizing is not the answer I believe, but at least its a progressive step in the right direction, and implies that at least one would be representative of the People is trying to be just that.

What are the latest opinion polls on legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana?

Are either of them less than 60% for it? No, in fact the perecentages are signficantly higher and have been for years.

Sounds like Layton is the only one listening.

[CanadaRocks]

Something else I'd like to add on this topic of marijuana.

I think if our so called leaders had any real concern about respresenting the Canadian people they would bring the choice of what to do on this issue to us in the form of a referendum and settle it.

Ignoring what the Canadian public wants and deciding we are incapable of chosing for ourselves is nothing but bunk. I wouldn't be a bit surprised to learn that some of these politicians are privately profiting in one way or another by keeping it illeagal.

And if any of them care to disagree? Then the next time a political figure is caught with marijuana I want that person convicted and removed from office.

Its utter garbage that there are one set of laws for the majority of Canadians, and an special set of "if a political figure is guilty of a criminal offense it will be swept under the carpet without conviction" laws.

I'd imagine if most Canadians lived above the law we wouldn't give a damn either if the laws were ever changed.

[CanadaRocks]

Something else I'd like to add on this topic of marijuana.

I think if our so called leaders had any real concern about respresenting the Canadian people they would bring the choice of what to do on this issue to us in the form of a referendum and settle it.

Ignoring what the Canadian public wants and deciding we are incapable of chosing for ourselves is nothing but bunk. I wouldn't be a bit surprised to learn that some of these politicians are privately profiting in one way or another by keeping it illeagal.

And if any of them care to disagree? Then the next time a political figure is caught with marijuana I want that person convicted and removed from office.

Its utter garbage that there are one set of laws for the majority of Canadians, and an special set of "if a political figure is guilty of a criminal offense it will be swept under the carpet without conviction" laws.

I'd imagine if most Canadians lived above the law we wouldn't give a damn either if the laws were ever changed.