Ottawa, Ontario: Prime Minister Jean Chretien reaffirmed plans this week to remove criminal penalties on the personal use and possession of marijuana. The PM’s comments came just days after a new national Sun-Leger poll found that 83 percent of Canadians want the nation’s pot laws to be less stringent.
Chretien said he anticipates legislation to be introduced within the next two months to decriminalize the possession and/or cultivation of up to 30 grams of marijuana, as previously recommended by a special House of Commons report released last fall. “The consequences of conviction for possession of a small amount of cannabis for personal use are disproportionate to the potential harm associated with the behavior,” that report concluded.
Under Chretien’s proposal, which has been endorsed by Justice Minister Martin Cauchon, citizens possessing small amounts of pot would receive a ticket, but would not be subject to arrest or a criminal record. Twelve US states have enacted similar decriminalization policies.
In recent months, judges in three separate provinces have thrown out pot possession charges ruling that the current federal law criminalizing marijuana is invalid. Oral arguments before the Canadian Supreme Court are scheduled to be heard next week in a separate constitutional challenge over the legality of Canada’s marijuana laws.
For more information, please contact Keith Stroup of NORML at (202) 483-5500.