Posted on 06/13/2002 2:32:58 PM PDT by Alan Chapman
U.S. Drug Czar Calls for War on Marijuana During Visit to Canada.
Canada should get tough on marijuana instead of decriminalizing the drug or allowing people to use it for medicinal purposes, U.S. drug policy chief John Walters said Wednesday.
"Canada's decision about how it handles this or other issues of regulated substance is its decision. We respect that," Walters told reporters during a two-day visit for an international meeting of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence.
But he made it clear the American government disagrees with recent moves in Canada to liberalize drug policies.
More than 250 Canadians have federal government clearance to smoke marijuana for medical reasons. Canada amended drug laws last year to allow patients with conditions such as HIV, cancer, and multiple sclerosis to use marijuana legally.
Walters said there were better ways to treat patients than smoking marijuana.
A Canadian Senate committee has expressed initial support for decriminalizing marijuana, with its final report due in August following public hearings. A preliminary report released in May said no scientific evidence exists that marijuana use leads to harder drugs, or that it is more dangerous to society than alcohol.
Canadian federal agencies spend about $326 million each year to fight drugs and more than 30,000 people are charged with simple possession annually, the preliminary report said.
If Canada follows the committee's initial recommendations, marijuana would still be illegal, but users would not be penalized. That would differ from the zero tolerance policy of the U.S. government.
Walters, the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, said that of the 4.3 million Americans suffering drug addiction, 65 percent are dependent on marijuana.
Liberal drug laws in Canada would be a concern for the United States, Walters said.
"It certainly could become a problem if the trade is able to use our borders as a vehicle to enhance their effectiveness to move drugs across the border," he said of drug smugglers.
It's been my experience that government workers, no matter what department, are too incompetent to get a real job like the rest of us.
Mr. Walters, you wouldn't happen to have a source on that one, would you? I mean a real source, not a DEA-funded pseudostudy? Because it sounds like you pulled those numbers right out of your ... uh, backside.
But wait, that goes against all the US nanny government propaganda that's been shoved down out throats all these years. Could our government protectors be wrong? Say it isn't so!!
Considering that all these people are going to die, soon, and in agony, why would we CARE what they ingested? Talk about intrusive government...
And on the topic of intrusive government, how can Canada be so right on this topic, and so wrong on gun ownership?
Over the last decade Canada has perfected hydroponics for growing marijuana, used all that science and research could offer to improve both yield and potency and has created a business that flourishes to the tune of +5 billion dollars probably close to 10% of Canadian GDP.
My guess is canada wouldn’t stop now if we threatened to bomb them, I will lay odds that during the reign drug policy chief John Walters, Canada will not only not stop, but its increase marijuana production.
Put that in your pipe and smoke it Jonny boy. What a marron!
Get ready you darned pot heads up there
That sounds like a candidate for "quote of the day" to me. Very perceptive.
Of course - it would show how inane our Federal Drug Policy is.
I read it this morning but decided against posting it here because I had a feeling it would be pulled. link
the foolish American Govt (supported by your hard earned taxes) flail against the wind
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