Quel est la Marijuana?
Canadian Prime Minister Talks About Toking Up
Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien told a Canadian newspaper October 3 that he would consider trying marijuana himself once it is no longer a criminal offense. Chretien, who will retire in February, has pushed a marijuana decriminalization bill in parliament that would end criminal penalties for possession of up to 15 grams (about a half-ounce). While marijuana would remain illegal under that bill, possession would not be a crime but only a ticketable offense.
"I don't know what is marijuana," said the 69-year-old Chretien. "Perhaps I will try it when it will no longer be criminal. I will have my money for my fine and a joint in the other hand."
The remarks about marijuana smoking came in the context of a discussion with the alternative weekly the Winnipeg Free Press about Chretien's political legacy. Was Chretien concerned that liberal policies like marijuana decriminalization and support for same-sex marriages would color how he was remembered? Not at all, the prime minister said. "The decriminalization of marijuana is making normal what is the practice," he explained. "It is still illegal, but do you think Canadians want their kids, 18 years old or 17, who smoke marijuana once and get caught by the police, to have a criminal record for the rest of their life? So what has happened is so illogical that they are not prosecuted any more. So let's make the law adjust to the realities. It is still illegal, but they will pay a fine. It is in synch with the times."
Read @ Stop the Drug War
Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien told a Canadian newspaper October 3 that he would consider trying marijuana himself once it is no longer a criminal offense. Chretien, who will retire in February, has pushed a marijuana decriminalization bill in parliament that would end criminal penalties for possession of up to 15 grams (about a half-ounce). While marijuana would remain illegal under that bill, possession would not be a crime but only a ticketable offense.
"I don't know what is marijuana," said the 69-year-old Chretien. "Perhaps I will try it when it will no longer be criminal. I will have my money for my fine and a joint in the other hand."
The remarks about marijuana smoking came in the context of a discussion with the alternative weekly the Winnipeg Free Press about Chretien's political legacy. Was Chretien concerned that liberal policies like marijuana decriminalization and support for same-sex marriages would color how he was remembered? Not at all, the prime minister said. "The decriminalization of marijuana is making normal what is the practice," he explained. "It is still illegal, but do you think Canadians want their kids, 18 years old or 17, who smoke marijuana once and get caught by the police, to have a criminal record for the rest of their life? So what has happened is so illogical that they are not prosecuted any more. So let's make the law adjust to the realities. It is still illegal, but they will pay a fine. It is in synch with the times."
posted by Dust at 23:05
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