“The consequences of a criminal conviction for simple possession of a cannabis product are disproportionate to the potential harms associated with personal use,” Committee Concludes
Ottawa, Ontario: Members of a House committee urged Parliament to amend federal law to decriminalize the possession and cultivation of up to 30 grams of marijuana, in a final report released today by the House Special Committee on the Non-Medical Use of Drugs. The recommendation had been expected; on Monday Justice Minister Martin Cauchon stated he would pursue legislation to decriminalize pot within the next four months.
“A majority of members of the Committee are persuaded that there is a need to reform legislation [with regards to] cannabis,” the report states. “We agree, for example, that because enforcement of the law appears to be sporadic, uneven, and subject to regional discrepancies, its application is likely to be inconsistent and unfair. We further agree that the consequences of a criminal conviction for simple possession of a cannabis product are disproportionate to the potential harms associated with personal use.
“[Therefore,] the Committee recommends that [Parliament] establish a comprehensive strategy for decriminalizing the possession and cultivation of not more than 30 grams of cannabis for personal use.”
Under the Committee’s decriminalization scheme, persons found with small amounts of pot would be issued a ticket, and ordered to pay a small fine. Marijuana offenders would no longer be subject to arrest or a criminal record under the plan, and fines could be paid without appearing in court.
NORML Executive Director Keith Stroup endorsed the Committee’s recommendation, noting that 12 U.S. states have enacted similar policies. Seventy-two percent of Americans say they would support a similar national decriminalization policy in the United States, according to a recent CNN/Time Magazine poll.
“The American public recognizes that adults who smoke marijuana responsibly are not criminals and they do not want to spend our nation’s limited police resources arresting and jailing them,” Stroup said. “Canada’s impending decision to decriminalize pot is one our federal government will not be able to ignore.”
For more information, please contact either Keith Stroup or Paul Armentano of NORML at (202) 483-5500. The House Committee report is available online.