NORML Canada: Canadian Politicians on Cannabis Policy

The recent "teen weed use lowers IQ for life" scare is yet another in a litany of lies about pot.

Questions for anyone who still thinks cannabis prohibition is a good idea...

1. Is it possible to stop people from using cannabis? [millions of Cdns use cannabis every year]

2. Is it possible to stop the black market supply of cannabis? [cannabis is more plentiful]

At this point it comes down to who you would rather supply the cannabis...

3. Would you prefer that cannabis sales enrich organized criminals, or have a new source tax revenue to fund social services?

But don't take my word for it. Here's an excerpt from the Conclusions and Recommendation section of the 2002 Senate Report on Cannabis, under the heading, "Le Dain - Already Thirty Years Ago"

“The  Le Dain Commission concluded [in 1972] that the criminalization of cannabis had no scientific basis. Thirty years later, we note that:

1. Billions of dollars have been sunk into enforcement without any greater effect: there are more consumers, more regular users and more regular adolescent users;
2. Billions of dollars have been poured into enforcement in an effort to reduce supply, without any greater effect: cannabis is more available than ever, it is cultivated on a large scale, even exported, swelling coffers and making organized crime more powerful; and
3. There have been tens of thousands of arrests and convictions for the possession of cannabis and thousands of people have been incarcerated; however, use trends remain totally unaffected and the gap the Commission noted between the law and public compliance continues to widen.

It is time to recognize what is patently obvious: our policies have been ineffective, because they are poor policies.”
Senate Report: Vol 3 Conclusions and Recommendations - Page 607

"The continued prohibition of cannabis jeopardizes the health and well-being of Canadians much more than does the substance itself."
- Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs, 2002

The clock is ticking and organized crime is becoming more or and more powerful the longer our elected representatives delay in recognizing, "what is patently obvious."

***If you agree with the conclusions in the Senate Committee authoritative report, please do your part by telling someone else about it.***

Check out NORML Canada's Senate Report on Cannabis - 10th Anniversary campaign website and, for Canada's sake, share the link with someone you know who could benefit from learning more about how our current cannabis policy is doing great harm to Canadian society.

NORML Canada's Senate Report on Cannabis website:
http://norml.ca/senate-report/

Thank you.

-FrankD