Canada strongly considering decriminalizing or legalizing marijuana
August 1, 2001 11:13 AM   Subscribe

 
Good.
posted by Hackworth at 11:25 AM on August 1, 2001


Make room, you hoser, I'm moving north.
posted by msacheson at 11:30 AM on August 1, 2001


As of a few days ago, Canadians can now go to their doctor and get a note allowing them to purchase for medical purposes. This is for patients suffering from AIDS, cancer and a few other heavy-duty afflictions. And no, a headache won't do it.
posted by websavvy at 11:34 AM on August 1, 2001


For a slightly more balanced report on Canada's policies and attitudes about medical marijuana, have a look here. I guess there's nothing in the rules against posting a link to partizan news sources...
posted by nprigoda at 11:46 AM on August 1, 2001


sorry, should say partisan. I was thinking of almond paste.
posted by nprigoda at 11:48 AM on August 1, 2001


No, nprigoda, that's marzipan.

Partizan is an eastern-European, former USSR country.
posted by Marquis at 11:49 AM on August 1, 2001


I actually didn't know about partizan being a country. I did know that marzipan is the almond product, but marzipan and Partizan sound so similar... what can I say, things sound funnier in my head. (and the spell check wouldn't work)
posted by nprigoda at 11:54 AM on August 1, 2001


I was just joshin' with ya, npr.
posted by Marquis at 11:56 AM on August 1, 2001


skallas: the I-5 border crossing up by Bellingham into B.C. is already pretty much like that.

-Mars
posted by Mars Saxman at 12:01 PM on August 1, 2001


vancouver - is quite relaxed about usage. come on up visit...and have a puff.
posted by spark_001 at 12:08 PM on August 1, 2001


Is the stuff good for your lungs too? Smoke cigarettes till lyou get lung cancer and then move to pot for relief of pain...who says god doesn't take care of all our needs.
posted by Postroad at 12:11 PM on August 1, 2001


Hmm, Canada, not just for Cuban cigars anymore.
posted by a3matrix at 12:11 PM on August 1, 2001


come on up visit...and have a puff.

But don't come to Ottawa, at least if you want to light up in public.

As of today, it's illegal to smoke (tobacco or not) in public places, including bars and restaurants. Hooray! Going out's going to become a whole lot less nauseating.
posted by Marquis at 12:18 PM on August 1, 2001


Jesse Winchester was right! Time to get into the old albums again.

"Twigs and Seeds"
"Nothing But A Breeze"
posted by nofundy at 12:21 PM on August 1, 2001


I watched a document stating that pure clean heroin (not the crap you get on the street) is no more dangerous than marijuana. They might have been lying but it was a scientific show.

Perhaps if all drugs were uncriminalised, people could get hold of legal fresh sources and be much better off than taking the drugs mixed with crap, talcum powder, dust, and all that stuff that's in them today.

Then again, perhaps decriminalisation will make people realise that recreational drugs are a losers way out anyway.
posted by wackybrit at 2:37 PM on August 1, 2001


I can't see this making much of a difference in Canada - at least not on the wet coast, where you can smoke it openly in public, and lots of people do, without repercussions. I don't smoke dope, but some of my friends did, and the worst that ever happened was a polite police officer coming over and saying, "Oh, come on now guys, put that out. Okay? Thanks!"

Decriminalize it, and you can tax it. So smart. And frees up a lot of time and effort for fighting the heroin problem. I also think that if it were decriminalized, there would be a lot more information out there as common knowledge on the negative effects of pot smoking. Everyone wins.
posted by kristin at 3:14 PM on August 1, 2001


As of today, it's illegal to smoke (tobacco or not) in public places, including bars and restaurants. Hooray! Going out's going to become a whole lot less nauseating.

This is off-topic, but this kind of arbitrary legal intrusion feels like the lip of the slippery slope to me, more so in light of recent (possibly fraudulent - anyone know the veracity of 'em?) reports that the effects of passive smoking have been overestimated.
(I'm an ex-smoker who's no longer fond of the smell to say the least, but having the gov't tell me I can't light up in a bar for chrissakes if I were to relapse...'government as nanny' doesn't appeal to me much)

Another reason, no matter how much I miss the Great White North sometimes, that I'm not going back anytime soon if I can help it. Not that they'll miss me much :-)
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 3:07 AM on August 2, 2001


It's about time ...

Personally, I wouldn't touch the stuff, but I have friends who would get a kick out of this.

I also like the fact that the article writer seems to think that if Canada can influence the States into legalizing pot as well, that they'd have to convert to the metric system. Pshaw, by the time we have the weed flowing here, we could care less about your silly imperial system.
posted by marq at 12:26 AM on August 4, 2001


Late, but just for the sake of completeness - Portugal recently joined Spain and Italy in the decriminalization of marijuana and heroin says the Independant.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:21 PM on August 4, 2001


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