• “To deliver it (marijuana) through a tobacco-like product makes no sense. It is an effective drug, for some, better than pill ... cancer, nausea ... for some people it works very well. You have to prove that it is the best drug but that proof has not been done.”
• “There is far greater damage from alcohol than marijuana, but as use goes up, that might change.”
  from Wed 1115

2003 MarijuanaArchive

Tuesday 15 April 2008 OTTAWA: GOVT. SEEKS POT GROWERS
Canada's health department is looking for someone to grow marijuana. The drug will be distributed to people with certificates allowing them to use it for medical reasons. Under Canadian law, certified users of medical marijuana can grow their own, have someone grow it for them or buy it from the government. However, Health Canada says it plans to stop issuing licenses for home-grown marijuana and to force all medical users to buy their supplies directly from itself.

Friday Dec 26, 2003 ts
Liberals bringing marijuana bill back The Martin Liberals plan to bring back the same marijuana legislation that died when Parliament adjourned last month, instead of making any immediate amendments.

Thursday Dec 25, 2003 ts
Highest court backs pot law Enforcement continues, Ottawa says But PM again talks of new legislation

Tuesday Dec 23, 2003 cbc
STUDY TO PIN DOWN MARIJUANA DOSES FOR CHRONIC PAIN After years of delay, a Canadian study on the value of marijuana as a pain reliever is underway in Montreal.

Sunday Nov 30, 2003 np
Marijuana advocates get day in high court
TORONTO -- The recently restored prohibition against marijuana possession could be thrown out again in a matter of weeks, depending on the outcome of a widely anticipated case heard by the Supreme Court of Canada last spring.

Sunday Nov 30, 2003 ts
Joint venture has Montreal abuzz
Two arrested as marijuana café opens Located across from police station

Sunday Nov 30, 2003 cbc
MONTREAL 'BRING YOUR OWN POT' CAFE OPENS
Montreal police were expected to keep a close watch on Saturday's opening of a new marijuana cafe in the city. That won't be difficult, because there's a police station just down the road.

MONTREAL: POLICE ARREST TWO AT MARIJUANA CAFE Just a few hours after the grand opening of the first marijuana cafe in Montreal, police moved in Saturday and arrested two people for possession The Marijuana Party of Canada cafe allows patrons of "Chez Marijane" to smoke marijuana on the premises. Its owners way while they will not sell marijuana, the cafe will used to push for the full legalization of the drug. After warning that anyone smoking in the cafe would be charged, police moved in as customers and cafe volunteers sipped coffee, passed joints and revelled in having a place they could congregate to smoke dope. Hugo St-Onge, president of the Bloc Pot party, called the arrests a waste of time and money. He said one of the men arrested has multiple sclerosis. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Jean Chretien's Liberal government introduced legislation--still pending--to decriminalize marijuana. It is unclear if the Liberals under Paul Martin will pass the bill. In Canada, those suffering from certain illnesses can--with a doctor's prescription--smoke marijuana.

Tuesday Oct 14, 2003 Marijuana smoking damages sperm
Marijuana makes sperm swim too fast, too early and reduces their chances of successful fertilisation, research shows.

Tuesday Oct 14, 2003 OTTAWA: MARTIN WANTS TO AMEND POT BILL--REPORT
The Ottawa Citizen reported Saturday that Paul Martin is putting his political weight behind amendments that would toughen the government's marijuana bill. Quoting a spokesman for Mr. Martin, the Citizen said the prime minister-in-waiting would "be more comfortable" with the proposed legislation if the government came down harder on marijuana growers, traffickers and repeat offenders. Mr. Martin's position on unfinished legislation makes a difference because he will ultimately decide which bills will be revived when Prime Minister Jean Chretien steps down in February. Although Mr. Chretien is trying to fast-track the marijuana legislation so that it passes this fall, even Liberals doubt it will clear the necessary hurdles in time, meaning it could be on Mr. Martin's plate when he becomes prime minister.

Monday Oct 13, 2003 cc
Martin wants to toughen marijuana law
Paul Martin is putting his political weight behind amendments that would toughen the government's marijuana bill. The prime-minister-in-waiting would "be more comfortable" with the proposed legislation if the government came down harder on marijuana growers, traffickers and repeat offenders.

Jodie Jonas

Jodie Jonas who joined her brothers for the her first time at a Wednesday Night #998 April 18th, 2001. She was studying Education at McGill and is a crusader on behalf of the little-known migraine variant, CVS, as well as having been an expert witness on the subject of marijuana use under controlled circumstances. Her testimony, and that of others, has influenced the new Federal Government initiatives in this area.

100 years ago [1902] Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at corner drugstores. According to one pharmacist, "Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and the bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health."

Why I don’t prescribe pot

Jan. 10, 2003 The Marijuana Debate CBC TV clips
In 1923 it became illegal for Canadians to possess marijuana. But the laws have always been flouted, by recreational users who just want to get high, and by medicinal users seeking relief from pain and illness. From cannabis cafés to courtrooms, doctors and patients, rabble-rousers and senior statesmen have engaged in a passionate debate over marijuana possession. But the laws have endured. Alan Young [7:04] | Jul. 21, 2000 Marijuana Party becomes Canada's newest federal political party [2:25] | Jul. 31, 2000 Canada's marijuana laws declared unconstitutional [2:13] | Jul. 31, 2001 Medical marijuana legalized in Canada [2:48]

May 26, 1969 John and Yoko's Montreal Bed-in [11:46]
Montreal wasn't their first choice. In fact it wasn't even their second.
When John Lennon and Yoko Ono checked in to Montreal's Queen Elizabeth Hotel at midnight on May 26, 1969, it was, in part, due to heat and marijuana.
John and Yoko's Bed-in was originally conceived in Holland two months earlier.
The newlyweds hosted a honeymoon "bed-in" for peace at the Amsterdam Hilton, wanting to use their celebrity for good. more notes

Sunday Oct 5, 2003 OTTAWA: CHRETIEN SAYS MARIJUANA BILL'S TIME HAS COME Prime Minister Jean Chretien says the time is right to decriminalize marijuana -- and jokes he may even fire up a joint once legislation passes. Mr. Chretien told the Winnipeg Free Press: "I will have my money for my fine and a joint in the other hand." Reporter Paul Samyn, who interviewed the Mr. Chretien, said the prime minister was obviously joking when he made the remarks that appeared in Saturday's edition of his paper. In the interview, Mr. Chretien said moving to decriminalize pot is a way of dealing with reality. He said the reality is that no one wants kids who experiment with pot to end up with criminal records for the rest of their lives.

Monday Sep 8, 2003 MONTREAL: POT CAFE TO OPEN
It's not quite Amsterdam yet, but the Canadian city of Montreal is becoming more marijuana friendly. Proponents of the drug are planning to open a coffee shop and restaurant this month where customers can bring their own pot to smoke. Marijuana will not be sold on site. Hugo Saint-Onge, an owner of the cafe and leader of the Bloc Pot, a political party dedicated to the legalisation of marijuana, said they have not excluded the idea of selling pot as is done in Holland but that will only come about if and when the law permits it. For now, the Government of Canada intends to introduce legislation to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana.

Wednesday Aug 27, 2003 TORONTO:
OVERNMENT BEGINS DISTRIBUTION OF MEDICINAL MARIJUANA The
first deliveries of marijuana grown and distributed by Canada's federal government are reaching a small group of sick Canadians. The recipients say the illegal street drug helps alleviate the symptoms of their diseases, most often AIDS, cancer or multiple sclerosis. Medicinal marijuana activists have long fought for the right for the sick to consume the drug, and a safe and consistent supply. Recent court victories forced the Canadian federal government to offer exemptions from Canada's criminal penalties for possessing marijuana. About 500 Canadians have won exemptions but only six are receiving marijuana. The marijuana is being grown at a private lab buried under the prairie city of Flin Flon. A 30 gram package costs $150, about $100 less than the price on the street. It comes in a small plastic bag with a red maple lead emblazoned on the front.

Sunday Jun 1, 2003 nyt
Federal Persecution
Ed Rosenthal, a medical marijuana advocate, is to be sentenced next week on marijuana cultivation charges. His conviction was a miscarriage of justice.

Thursday May 15, 2003 Liberals feud as marijuana bill delayed
The federal government's marijuana bill was suddenly postponed yesterday, amid Liberal infighting, renewed complaints from the U.S. drug czar who called potent "B.C. bud" the "crack" of marijuana, and a warning from Health Minister Anne McLellan that decriminalization will cause a spike in drug use. b

Wednesday May 14, 2003 OTTAWA: PM DEFENDS MARIJUANA MISSION TO U.S. The Canadian Prime Minister, Mr. Chrétien, has defended in the House of Commons his decision to send his justice minister to Washington to explain impending Canadian legislation to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana. The opposition New Democratic Party, the Progressive Conservative Party and the Bloc Québécois says he shouldn't have sent Martin Cauchon to tell the Americans about a piece of Canadian legislation before it's even introduced in the House. NDP leader Jack Layton says Canada's political sovereignty has gone "up in smoke." And the Bloc leader, Gilles Duceppe, asked why it was so important for the minister to obtain Washington's permission before legislative action in the House. Mr. Chrétien answered that since the Americans are concerned about the marijuana bill, it's normal to explain it to them. A spokeswoman for Mr. Cauchon said his meeting with Attorney General John Ashcroft was a private one and that he would have nothing to say about what transpired. Although the bill hasn't been formally presented, it's known that it will end jail terms and criminal records for the possession of small quantities of marijuana. However, it would remain illegal and fines would be imposed on offenders. The Canadian Press reported on Tuesday that the legislation will stiffen punishments for growers and traffickers of marijuana. The Americans have expressed the fear that decriminalization of marijuana in Canada will lead to more shipments of marijuana from Canada into the U.S.

Tuesday May 13, 2003 New charges for marijuana possession: 15 grams, $100 fine The federal government is considering fining small-time marijuana users as little as $100 under decriminalization legislation that is expected to be introduced Thursday. People caught with more than 15 grams would still be subject to a criminal record that carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Mon 3/31/2003 ts

Chrétien ready to ease pot possession law Applause greets promise to youth 'We're not legalizing it'
"We will soon introduce legislation to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana," he told a Liberal party fundraiser. Amid applause, he quipped, "Don't start to smoke it right away! We're not legalizing it."

Sunday Apr 20, 2003 ec Britain's thrifty cannabis smokers grow perhaps half their supplies at home, according to a new report. The many (legal) suppliers of equipment and seeds for such domestic horticulture allow greenfingered puffers to sidestep traditional “retailers”.

Only one thing is certain about the great marijuana debate: whether you are a prohibition-mad politician, or a stoned ex-hippy who would like to dish out the drug for free, you are likely to have a lot more opinions than facts.

Mon 3/31/2003 cbc
ANOTHER POT CASE UP IN SMOKE
A judge in Dartmouth, N.S., has thrown out a charge against a woman for possessing marijuana because there is no federal law in place covering the alleged crime.

Sunday Mar 30, 2003 vs
Judge rules no valid federal law governs pot possession
Another drug case has ended because of controversy over Canada's marijuana laws. A provincial court judge in Dartmouth ruled Monday there is no valid federal law in place governing simple possession of marijuana.
...Given rulings in similar cases in Ontario and P.E.I. earlier this year, and based on a previous ruling in a medical marijuana case, "it would be oppressive and vexatious to allow a prosecution to proceed," said Buchan. .."The law itself is bad, and it violates her constitutional rights," ...However, federal Justice Minister Martin Cauchon has said he intends to reform the law this year and decriminalize simple possession.
In the meantime, police and RCMP both say they will continue to make arrests for marijuana possession, [why?] but it is up to the Crown to decide whether to take the cases to court.

Sunday Mar 16, 2003 cbc Cauchon commits to pot reforms Justice Minister Martin Cauchon repeated his commitment Thursday to introduce ....legislation to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, possibly as early as this summer.

"The criminal law is a blunt tool; it is only effective if it is applied consistently and if it reflects true social consensus on an issue," Cauchon said during a luncheon speech in Toronto at the Empire Club of Canada. "I am troubled by the inconsistent application of the criminal law to the possession of small amounts of marijuana.

"Your children or grandchildren may not be charged if they are caught in Toronto, but kids in small towns across Canada are being charged for exactly the same behaviour. This means that kids are ending up with a criminal conviction," Cauchon told the business audience. "This can have a devastating impact on their lives -- from the types of jobs they can get, to travelling or going to university in other countries, particularly the United States."

Cauchon did not respond directly to a question about whether Ottawa will be able to change marijuana laws in the face of strong opposition from the U.S. government. He suggested Australia's "ticketing regime," which involves fines for possession of small amounts of marijuana "would be more efficient for law enforcement" in Canada and free up resources to combat drug trafficking and organized crime.

Last December, the justice minister pledged to introduce new marijuana possession legislation by the end of April.

"I never like to give timeframes," Cauchon said after his speech Thursday. "But honestly, if I would be able to move before the summer recess I would be pleased. Sooner than that, would be great."

"At one level, his comments are very encouraging," said Toronto lawyer Paul Burstein, who has been involved in high-profile challenges to the marijuana possession and medical marijuana laws.

However, Burstein noted Cauchon's comments about the impact of a criminal conviction for marijuana possession "are completely inconsistent with the position that his lawyers have taken in a factum filed with the Supreme Court of Canada."

The Supreme Court was to hear arguments last December to decide if potential criminal sanctions for marijuana possession violate the Charter of Rights. The court postponed the hearing because of apparently conflicting positions put forward by Cauchon and Justice Department lawyers. A new hearing date of May 6 has been set.

Why I don’t prescribe pot

(Medical Post) — By Reginald Hutchings

Dear patients: You may have heard that for certain medical conditions the federal government has authorized doctors to prescribe marijuana. I disagree with this ruling and offer a few reasons to support my decision.

Cannabis, also known as the hemp plant, produces fibres used in the manufacture of rope and textiles. Under certain growing conditions this same plant produces pharmacologically active products, mainly marijuana and hashish.

Marijuana is a mixture of dried shredded cannabis leaves, stems, seeds and flowers.

Hashish is derived from the resinous material contained in the flower buds and upper leaves of the cannabis plant.

According to the Office of Cannabis Medical Access, marijuana for medical use has been authorized for three categories:

Terminally ill patients
Patients with multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury or disease, cancer, AIDS/HIV infection, severe forms of arthritis or epilepsy, where the applicant suffers from symptoms related to the medical condition or its treatment such as severe pain, persistent muscle spasm, cachexia, anorexia, weight loss, nausea and/or seizures
Where the applicant suffers from symptoms associated with a medical condition or its treatment, other than those described above and all conventional treatments have failed or are otherwise inappropriate
When you think of applying these rules to the aforementioned patients, defined under the last category, it is conceivable marijuana could be prescribed for backache, headache, heartache, heartburn, overweight, underweight or most conditions mentioned in Dorland’s Medical Dictionary.

Bear in mind that there is a difference between the naturally occurring products cannabis and marijuana and purified derivatives. One purified compound, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is an effective antinauseant, antiemetic and appetite stimulant, and has been approved for use in patients with AIDS and cancer. In controlled studies, THC has been shown to have antispasticity effects. Cannabidiol, another isolated compound from cannabis, was shown to reduce seizure frequency in one double-blind study, but two later studies failed to show any therapeutic effect. These limited studies, trials related to other medical conditions and anecdotal reports should stimulate additional hypothesis and further research. To interpret these reports as support for the medical use of marijuana would be similar to promoting opium smoking because morphine is an effective analgesic.

There is no convincing scientific evidence to support smoking marijuana for the conditions defined by Health Canada. The safety of using cannabis is unknown. Like alcohol, cannabis depresses the central nervous system; it impairs short-term memory, slows reactions and decreases co-ordination. In high doses it can induce panic attacks, hallucinations and psychosis. Cannabis increases the workload of the heart and could be dangerous to those with coronary heart disease. In the lungs, chronic exposure to cannabis smoke has an effect similar to tobacco smoke. There are additional safety concerns regarding the effect of cannabis on other body systems.

Our knowledge of these products is not sufficient to wholly endorse or totally condemn their use. We need more information. This can only come from further scientific study. Marijuana has not passed through the requisite series of clinical trials, and has not been approved by appropriate regulatory authorities as effective and safe, the process demanded of all prospective therapeutic agents. This procedure was not followed, and in an unprecedented act, you can now be given a drug whose effectiveness and safety profile are essentially unknown.

The Canadian Medical Association opposes the Marijuana Medical Access Regulations.

The Netherlands Health Council and a nongovernmental U.K. group rejected the clinical use of crude cannabis. The U.S. Institute of Medicine recommended further research. It felt trials of smoked marijuana should be limited to short-term use. The report of the National Drug Strategy of Australia recommended properly controlled trials using synthetic cannabinoids. They did not endorse trials of smoked marijuana. The British Medical Association recommended further studies but rejected the therapeutic use of smoked marijuana or unstandardized herbal preparations of cannabis.

Ginseng root, ginkgo biloba, St. John’s wort, black cohosh, malt whiskey and tobacco are all plant derivatives chosen by many as therapeutic adjuncts. With rare exceptions, I would not prescribe any of these agents because there is insufficient information to justify their use, they are ineffective or they are unsafe. Nevertheless they are readily available and frequently used. The employment of these products for medical purposes may be considered by some as unusual, unwise or unsavory.

The same judgments may apply to the medical use of marijuana but what further defines the use of this product is its illegality. To use or to possess marijuana is a criminal act.

Why are physicians being asked to prescribe a drug that has not been adequately evaluated for either efficacy or safety, that has been opposed by Canadian and other professional bodies and is unlawful to possess? Could this represent our government’s response to lobbying while temporarily diverting our attention from the main issue? This is a social problem, not a medical problem.

The crux of the matter is whether possession of marijuana should remain a criminal offence. Enforcement of this law, in the current economic and social milieu, is virtually impossible. This problem must be addressed. Introducing Marijuana Medical Access Laws compounds the conundrum. Patients should not be victims of political perversity nor doctors the vectors of its dissemination.

For terminally ill patients and possibly in a limited number of other conditions I may consider prescribing marijuana. For most patients and for most conditions, I will not prescribe this drug until convincing scientific evidence is available. Please do not ask. As patients you should know the products I prescribe are effective and relatively safe. If cannabis is recommended you will know neither. You deserve better.

Reginald Hutchings is a physician in Charlottetown, P.E.I.
© The Medical Post 2002

RETURN

With the Québec election campaign in full swing and healthcare a priority for all parties, (see: 6priorites ; plate-forme-2003.pdf and grands_enjeux), the voice of the patient (who, not unimportantly is also a voter) is more and more important.

Sunday Mar 16, 2003 cbc P.E.I. JUDGE FREES MAN ON POT POSSESSION A judge in Prince Edward Island on Friday stayed charges of marijuana possession against a 19-year-old man, citing an Ontario ruling that said the charge of possession of marijuana is unconstitutional.

Sunday Mar 16, 2003 cbc P.E.I. JUDGE FREES MAN ON POT POSSESSION A judge in Prince Edward Island on Friday stayed charges of marijuana possession against a 19-year-old man, citing an Ontario ruling that said the charge of possession of marijuana is unconstitutional.

Friday Mar 7, 2003 cbc AMERICAN POT ADVOCATE SEEKS REFUGEE STATUS IN CANADA
An American man who fled to Canada after being arrested for cultivating marijuana for medicinal purposes will have a refugee hearing in Vancouver Wednesday.

Monday Feb 3, 2003 rci WASHINGTON:
BUSH COMPLAINS CANADA LAX IN DRUG ENFORCEMENT
U.S. President George W. Bush has complained that Canada enforcement of anti-drug laws is ineffective and that it has caused an increase in drug traffic from Canada to the U.S. The president made the affirmations in a letter to his secretary of state, Colin Powell. Mr. Bush has gone so far in his letter as to claim that Canada is the principle source of certain drugs found in the U.S., chiefly marijuana and ephedrine, a substance used to make amphetamines. The president's letter doesn't suggest any particular measures against Canada.

Wednesday Feb 26, 2003 GENEVA: UN DUBIOUS ABOUT CANADA'S CANNABIS POLICY A United Nations agency has expressed doubts about the advisability of Canada's policy on the medical use of marijuana. The International Narcotics Control Board says in its annual report that the Canadian government may have acted prematurely in allowing marijuana use by the sick before research into the supposed medical benefits of marijuana is complete. The report says it's unclear why Canadian legislators couldn't wait a few years until that research has been carried out. Two years ago, a Canadian court ruled that an epileptic had the right to smoke marijuana to control his seizures. The federal government responded by adopting regulations allowing the use of marijuana in certain medical circumstances. Since then, there have been a series of further court cases and appeals that have left the legal status of medical marijuana undetermined.

Friday Jan 17, 2003 cbc
MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR MARIJUANA BUST IN QUEBEC NETS 75-YEAR-OLD SUSPECT Police in Ste-Sophie, Que., have broken up a major marijuana growing operation, hidden in an abandoned seniors' residence.

Monday Jan 13, 2003 cbc
ANOTHER COURT RULES AGAINST POT LAWS For the second time in a week, an Ontario judge has thrown out a charge against a man who had been caught carrying a small amount of marijuana, saying the law is no longer valid.
TORONTO: OTTAWA LOSES ANOTHER MARIJUANA CASE For the second time in eight days, a court in Ontario has ruled that federal drug laws don't forbid the possession of small amounts of marijuana. Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto ruled that a 40-year-old man with no criminal record had the right to possession of less than 30 grams of the substance. The judge ruled that the law as currently no longer applies in Ontario. On Jan. 2, a court in Windsor, Ont., also ruled that the laws don't forbid possession of small amounts of marijuana

Jan 12, 2003 Chrétien's flip-flop: Move to decriminalize
After appearing hesitant before Christmas, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien is now ready to move quickly to decriminalize possession of marijuana.

Friday Jan 10, 2003 TORONTO: OTTAWA LOSES MARIJUANA RULING The Canadian government has lost a legal case involving the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Ontario Superior Court has ruled in favour of a group of sick people who claim that the federal law, which allows such use as an exemption from the law banning marijuana, is unconstitutional because they are excluded. The court ruled that the Medical Marijuana Access Regulations are unconstitutional because they prevent more deserving sick people from using marijuana than they permit. At present, about 300 sick people may use marijuana under the regulations. The lawyer representing the plaintiffs says the court has given the federal government six months to amend the law or it will be struck down. Last year, he argued that the law is unconstitutional because it requires declarations from doctors about their patients which the physicians are often reluctant to provide, and that doctors are unable to recommend a marijuana dosage because the substance remains unregulated.

Thursday, January 09, 2003 ow Marijuana reform: full speed ahead
The prime minister may be backing off, but Justice Minister Martin Cauchon says he intends to decriminalize marijuana " as quickly as I can." ..The prime minister may be backing off, but Justice Minister Martin Cauchon says he intends to decriminalize marijuana " as quickly as I can."

Marijuana Smoker Found Not Guilty. An ailing retired lawyer from the Valley town of Wilno was found not guilty yesterday of impaired driving caused by smoking marijuana.

Monday Dec 30, 2002 cbc
Pot law in doubt as teen acquitted Judge dismisses possession case; Lawyer argues federal act invalid
WINDSOR—An Ontario judge has thrown out a marijuana charge against a 16-year-old boy in a ruling lawyers heralded yesterday as another sign that Canada's pot laws are relaxing.

Sunday Jan 5, 2003 WINDSOR:
COURT THROWS OUT MARIJUANA CHANGE IN POSSIBLE LANDMARK CASE Ontario Court has dismissed a marijuana possession charge against a 16-year-old boy in Windsor, Ont., in what may establish a precedent regarding the possession of the plant. The court threw out the charge against the teenager after his lawyer argued that there is no law in the province that forbids the possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana. The lawyer said later that it could be the beginning of the end for the country's prohibition of small amounts of marijuana. He added, however, that some judges and police may disagree. The lawyer says several judges have suspended proceedings in similar cases while awaiting the outcome of the one in Windsor, and so that case could have an impact on future jurisprudence.

Friday Jan 3, 2003 Cauchon has also promised to table a bill early in the new year which would see the decriminalization of the possession of small amounts of marijuana.

2002

Thursday Dec 26, 2002 cbc
JUDGE RULES MARIJUANA LAW INVALID Canada's law on possession of small amounts of marijuana is no longer valid, an Ontario judge ruled Thursday.

Thursday Dec 26, 2002 cnn
Paddy Torsney, chair of the Commons Special Committee on the Non-Medical use of Drugs, tables a report from Parliament calling for an easing of marijuana laws. Site offers home delivery of marijuana
Canadian activists for the medicinal use of marijuana celebrated a court victory on Thursday by launching an Internet site offering home delivery of cannabis for seriously ill people. The Marijuana Party Foundation took the unprecedented step after Quebec Superior Court Judge Gilles Cadieux stopped the trial of two volunteers.
The Web site, www.marijuanahomedelivery.ca , offers two formats of "highest quality therapeutic cannabis" with a THC content of 8 percent or more. A two-gram package sells for $30 Canadian ($19) while Internet surfers can order a 10 gram shipment for $120 Canadian.

Friday Dec 20, 2002 cbc
CHARGES STAYED IN MEDICAL MARIJUANA CASE It is unconstitutional to let some people use marijuana for medical reasons but then deny them an opportunity to get the drug, a Quebec judge ruled Thursday.

Thursday Dec 19, 2002 np
Marijuana decision still up in air: PM Jean Chrétien retreated yesterday from the government's plans to decriminalize marijuana by declaring that no final decision has been made. ...Mr. Chrétien, who said he has never tried marijuana, said that the debate over decriminalization is ongoing and that the government will have to make a decision "one day."

Saturday Dec 14, 2002 cbc U.S. FUMING OVER OTTAWA POT PROPOSAL A Canadian proposal to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana is causing concern in the United States.

Saturday Dec 14, 2002 cbc MPS CALL FOR RELAXING OF MARIJUANA LAWS A committee of the House of Commons says people caught with small amounts of marijuana should not end up with criminal records.

DECRIMINALIZATION OF MARIJUANA MEETS PROVINCIAL RESISTANCE
The federal government's decision announced Monday to decriminalize possession of marijuana is meeting with resistance on the part of several provinces. Ontario's solicitor general, David Young, says he's staggered that Ottawa could make decriminalization of marijuana a priority at the present time. Manitoba's solicitor general, Gord Mackintosh, says such a change isn't a priority for Manitoba. And Alberta's justice minister, David Hancock, predicts decriminalization of marijuana possession will attract organized crime. Saskatchewan's government says it will carry out a public opinion survey before adopting a stand on the matter.

Thursday Dec 12, 2002 np 30 grams likely limit for legal marijuana possession Justice Minister Martin Cauchon is expected to set a cutoff of 30 grams of marijuana -- the equivalent of 25 to 30 cigarettes -- as the amount a person can possess without being criminally charged.

Wednesday Dec 11, 2002 np Drug users are the same: Liberal MP Criminal drug users should be treated no differently from legal drug users, says the Liberal MP who chaired the House of Commons special committee on non-medicinal drug use. Marijuana 'grow houses' booming by Kate Jaimet The Ottawa Citizen
Police say there are at least 50,000 houses in Canada that are now used exclusively to grow marijuana, ranging from new homes worth as much as $600,000 in downtown Vancouver to more modest residences sprinkled through the suburban streets of Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa
Paddy Torsney says Canadians have a moral obligation to help people addicted to illegal drugs, even though the law makes them criminals.
"The moral issue occurs when people are in need of treatment and are unable to find treatment. It occurs when we discriminate between people who use legal substances versus those who use illegal substances, and somehow don't get them the help that they need. And it occurs when we allow people to get other diseases by virtue of the choice of drugs that they're using and we don't do anything to stop that," Ms. Torsney said at a press conference, where she released the committee's report, yesterday.

Wednesday Dec 11, 2002 np Cannabis coming off crime books Justice Minister Martin Cauchon said yesterday he intends to press ahead early next year with legislation to decriminalize marijuana so that people caught with small amounts won't face a criminal record.

Sunday Nov 17, 2002 OTTAWA: FIRST MARIJUANA CROP A BUST
Health Minister Anne McLellan says the first batch of marijuana grown by a private company under a Health Canada contract was useless for clinical trials and had to be burned. Prairie Plant Systems received a five-year, $5 million-dollar federal contract to grow marijuana in an abandoned copper mine in Flin Flon, Manitoba. But Ms. McLellan told the Montreal newspaper La Presse that the company's first batch was not uniform. The minister said the firm was unable to receive a supply of standardized marijuana seeds from the US, so the company turned to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The force supplied seeds that were seized in various raids, so the resulting plants had different amounts of the active ingredient in cannabis. Ms. McLelland said the crop had to be destroyed. Scientists have since been able to produce standardized seeds that have led to a second, more uniform harvest in Flin Flon which will be used for testing.

NEWS STORY

Marijuana 'grow houses' booming Authorities say more than 50,000 houses now used exclusively for plant cultivation   Janice Tibbetts The Ottawa Citizen Wednesday, November 27, 2002 CREDIT: John Major, The Ottawa Citizen   Grow houses, such as this residence raided in January on Inuvik Crescent in Kanata, are often dangerous firetraps because the growers bypass hydro meters to obtain the massive amounts of electricity to power the heat lamps and other paraphernalia to surreptitiously grow the plants.   CREDIT: Rainier Leipscher, The Cambridge Reporter   Homegrown marijuana has blossomed into a huge industry that collects billions of dollars annually, officials say. Police say there are at least 50,000 houses in Canada that are now used exclusively to grow marijuana, ranging from new homes worth as much as $600,000 in downtown Vancouver to more modest residences sprinkled through the suburban streets of Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa. The law enforcement, hydro and real estate industries -- conceding they are losing the battle against "this present and clear danger" -- came to Parliament Hill yesterday to call for an end to lax criminal sanctions against growers. "This is a community safety issue," said David Griffin, executive director of the Canadian Police Association. "What this means to the public is theft of hydro, your insurance rates are affected and not the least of our concerns is the drug trafficking that is going on in our communities." Police provided a detailed picture of the "grow houses," which they say are typically set up in suburban homes on the outskirts of Canada's largest cities. What started as a West Coast phenomenon a decade ago spread across the Prairies to Central Canada about two years ago, and now the houses are starting to crop up in the Atlantic region. "They are everywhere," said Staff Sgt. Marc Pinault of Ottawa, the RCMP's new national co-ordinator of marijuana grow operations. The growers do not normally live on the premises, but some hire decoy families to either live in the homes or drop by often enough to keep police and neighbours at bay. The homes are often equipped with TVs and lights programmed to come on daily. The lawns are cut and snow is removed regularly. But there are clues that something is amiss, police said. The windows and curtains are always closed. The smell can be pungent. Growers often smash large holes in the concrete foundation to route underground cables. The hydro industry says consumers are paying the price because growers illegally tap into the power supply for the massive quantities of electricity they need to operate high-voltage lamps and maintain hothouse temperatures, draining the system of hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Another main concern is that the operations release chemical toxins and fumes and the houses are a fire hazard, with their often-overloaded heating and wiring systems. The insurance industry says the fire risk could lead to a general rate increase. The grow operations now bring in billions of dollars in profit annually. Police say 95 per cent of them are run by criminal gangs, who smuggle their marijuana to the U.S. for sale. In Ontario, it is estimated that residential growing operations are a $1-billion-a-year business. There are about 10,000 grow houses in the Toronto area alone, officials say. British Columbia remains the country's marijuana-growing capital, where the annual business is estimated to reap up to $6 billion. The business is not confined to rundown rental properties. Growers are increasingly buying homes, and in some cases entire blocks are devoted to the lucrative business. Police say they are particularly worried about children who live in the homes, which they say are death traps. In a national sweep last week, in which $73 million worth of plants was seized, authorities also found 43 children aged four months to 17 years. Officials complained yesterday that when growers are caught, it is common for judges to impose fines or conditional sentences served at home instead of jail terms. Growers, who can easily each take in $1 million in profit annually, see the penalties simply as the cost of doing business. "Right now criminals are thumbing their nose," Dan McTeague, a Liberal MP from the Toronto-area constituency of Pickering-Ajax-Uxbridge, said yesterday. Solicitor General Wayne Easter conceded in the House of Commons that "we do need to do more" to fight the problem. © Copyright 2002 The Ottawa Citizen Monday Nov 4, 2002 TORONTO: POLITICIAN WANTS TOUGHER LAWS FOR POT GROWERS A senior official in Canada's most populous province wants the federal government to enact tougher laws and sentences for people convicted of growing marijuana. Bob Runciman is Ontario's public safety and security commissioner. He says Canadian police are reluctant to commit the time and resources needed to pursue individuals who operate marijuana-growing laboratories. Convicted pot growers normally receive only a conditional sentence or short jail term. Mr. Runciman wants stiffer penalties because more lenient ones encourage people to get into the lucrative business. He made the comments prior to a meeting of provincial and federal justice ministers planned for Calgary later this week. Canada has an international reputation for the quality of its marijuana and is the third largest supplier to the American market, after Mexico and Colombia. Tuesday Oct 22, 2002 cbc SAFE INJECTION SITES REQUIRE COMMUNITY APPROVAL: HEALTH MINISTER Canada's health minister is set to release guidelines for a controversial new program for drug addicts, bringing it one step further to getting federal approval. Where do you stand? Decriminalization is seen very much as a political solution, a middle-ground compromise which doesn't completely satisfy anyone. So why is the government going ahead with it? We answer that question and others. more... Sun 3/11/01 cbc SWISS GOV'T SEEKS TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA Switzerland's marijuana prohibition may soon be a thing of the past. The government is recommending that the Swiss parliament legalize the production, sale and use of marijuana. see Smoke & Drugs for more Friday Oct 4, 2002 cbc POT MAY NOT BE A PRIORITY ON OTTAWA'S TO-DO LIST The federal government might delay a proposal to remove marijuana from the Criminal Code, Liberal House leader Don Boudria said Thursday. [While we wait for the SUV Gov. many suffer! ] Wednesday Oct 2, 2002 Martin allies challenge speech Two of Paul Martin's staunchest supporters in the Liberal caucus challenged elements of the throne speech yesterday, with one of them guaranteeing a fight to the finish over any government attempt to take marijuana possession out of the Criminal .... The plan should have included a strategy to battle the spread of child pornography, said Mr. McTeague, who at the same time vehemently criticized the promise to consider the decriminalization of cannabis. "The issue of decriminalization, not on, I'm sorry," said Mr. McTeague. "Anybody who believes that that is going to happen has to very clearly take into account my view, (the views) of the constituencies they represent, and the cold hard facts." [is this what we have to look forward to? McTeague is a SUV DTN] OTTAWA: Sunday Sep 22, 2002 PM BACKED MARIJUANA REFORMS AS JUSTICE MINISTER Newly released records show that Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien wanted to radically reform marijuana laws when he was justice minister in 1981. Cabinet documents from the government of then-Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau show that Mr. Chretien pressed cabinet to lower fines, reduce jail sentences and eliminate the criminal records of Canadians convicted of possessing small amounts of marijuana. He also tabled a discussion paper at cabinet that, among other things, raised the possibility of legalizing marijuana. More than two decades later, Prime Minister Jean Chretien's justice minister is considering the decriminalization of marijuana. Martin Cauchon said this summer that there is "strong support" among Canadians for a new legal regime that would drop penalties against people who possess and use small quantities of the drug. Earlier this month, a Senate committee called on the government to legalize and regulate the production and sale of marijuana, and to erase the criminal records of those already convicted of simple possession. Friday Sep 6, 2002 cbc HARPER SLAMS SENATE POT REPORT A Senate committee report recommending the legalization of marijuana has drawn sharp criticism from Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen Harper. Friday Sep 6, 2002 rci OTTAWA: SENATORS WANT MARIJUANA LEGALIZED And W-N and the wise in Canda A committee of Canadian senators says use of marijuana should become legal for anyone over the age of 16. The committee issued a report on Wednesday saying the current system of prohibition of marijuana doesn't work and should be replaced with a regulated system, akin to that regulating alcohol. The report also calls for an amnesty for as many as 600,000 Canadians who acquired a criminal record for simple possession. The chairman of the committee, Senator Pierre Claude Nolin, noted that scientific evidence indicates that cannabis is far less harmful than alcohol. The federal justice minister, Martin Cauchon, declined to say whether he agrees marijuana should be legalized but did say that when legislation isn't being enforced, it must be changed to conform with social realities. The Canadian Police Association says it's appalled by the idea of legalizing marijuana because drugs, crime and violence go hand in hand. A House of Commons committee will issue a report on illicit drugs in November. Mr. Cauchon says he'll study it and reveal the government's position early next year. Friday Sep 6, 2002 cbc POT LESS HARMFUL THAN ALCOHOL: SENATE REPORT Marijuana is less harmful than alcohol and should be governed by the same sort of regulations, says a Senate committee. Thursday Aug 15, 2002 cbc COMPASSION CLUBS SAY MEDICAL MARIJUANA USERS WILL TURN TO STREET DEALERS Members of the country's largest compassion club say comments by the federal health minister have effectively ended Ottawa's medical marijuana program. Wednesday Aug 14, 2002 OTTAWA: MINISTER DISMISSES TALK OF AMERICAN PRESSURE OVER MARIJUANA Canada's justice minister, Martin Cauchon, has denied the American authorities are putting pressure on him not to decriminalize the use of marijuana. Mr. Cauchon says he's waiting to hear from two parliamentary committees regarding the decriminalization issue before making a decision on the issue. The minister says that in the meantime, he hasn't heard anything from the U.S. government about marijuana. Separate committees of the House of Commons and the Senate have spent the summer studying the decriminalization issue. The Americans have already gone on the record in opposition to a possible decriminalization of marijuana in Canada. John Walters, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Police, reiterated that opposition in Washington on Tuesday, saying that there's a mistaken notion in both countries that marijuana is not a dangerous, addictive substance that is especially dangerous for children. He says the problem is not that adults will make misguided decisions but rather that young people will do so and end up suffering from addictions. Wednesday Jul 24, 2002 ULcbc MARIJUANA MACHINE FOR SALE A small Quebec company is trying to capitalize on the legal use of medicinal marijuana. Sunday Jul 14, 2002 OTTAWA: JUSTICE MINISTER CONSIDERS LIGHTER POT PENALTIES Justice Minister Martin Cauchon is considering relaxing Canada's marijuana laws to make possession punishable by a fine instead of a prison sentence, The Canadian Press reports. But Mr. Cauchon's plans do not include making the drug legal, said highly placed sources in the Justice Department. While fines would be imposed for possession of marijuana, trafficking would continue to draw harsher punishments. Mr. Cauchon might address the issue at a meeting of the Canadian Bar next month in London, Ont. The report comes the same week that Britain announced it will virtually decriminalize cannabis to give police more time to fight the use of hard drugs. Senator Pierre Claude Nolin, chairman of a Senate committee looking at illegal drugs, dismissed the idea of imposing fines on marijuana-users. "Most of those who are caught are young people and poor people," Nolin said. "But they don't pay their fines. And what happens when we don't pay fines? We go to prison." In Canada, more than 250 people have clearance to smoke marijuana provided by the federal government. Ottawa amended drug laws last year to allow such clearance for patients with conditions such as HIV, cancer and multiple sclerosis. Proponents of decriminalization dismiss the war on drugs as a waste of time and money. Pierrette Lucas son story should make us all "mad as hell" Saturday Jul 6, 2002 rci TORONTO: INDOOR MARIJUANA FARMS GOBBLE UP ENERGY Electricity distributors in the Canadian province of Ontario say the burgeoning numbers of marijuana growhouses in the province are costing them $500 million a year. The distributors say the entire province is paying the price because of increased electricity rates to make up the shortfall in their revenues. A lawyer representing the distributors says that growers of marijuana no longer try to hide their crops in farmers fields but rather have set up shop in residential neighbourhoods, where they cultivate the marijuana hydroponically. Police say a single such facility can generate a profit of $1 million a year. The ventilation and powerful lights required can devour $2,000 of electricity a month, which the growers contrive to steal rather than pay for. Monday, May 13, 2002 Global National Canadian marijuana reform concern to U.S. -- Who would have thought you'd live long enough to see this. Hearings by Canadian parliamentarians into legalizing marijuana. And even more amazing is whose running the hearings. Senators, whose average age has tended to those 55 plus. But today in Regina they kicked off a series of meetings aimed at looking at whether it's time to take smoking pot off the list of crimes in Canada. And framing these discussions is a little-noticed report they've just issued reaching some startling conclusions May 4, 2002 cbc MARIJUANA LOBBYISTS LIGHT UP ON PARLIAMENT HILL Thousands of Canadians, some smoking pot, took part in what supporters called the "Million Marijuana March" Saturday. Thursday May 2, 2002 cbc SENATE TO STUDY TREATING POT LIKE TOBACCO Suggesting there may be solid reasons to decriminalize marijuana, a Senate committee released its preliminary review of existing policy Thursday and said it plans to hold public hearings. Tuesday Apr 2, 2002 cbc HEAVY MARIJUANA USE BY TEENS TEMPORARILY LOWERS THEIR IQ: STUDY Young, healthy people who smoke fewer than five marijuana cigarettes a week don't seem to suffer any long-term effects to their IQ, Canadian researchers have found. Friday Mar 5, 2002 cnn "But in an indication of the controversy surrounding a drug said to be used at least weekly by 7 million people in the United States, a medical expert not involved in the study questioned the findings and whether the alleged adverse impact of the drug persists. " Marijuana linked to brain problems Heavy, chronic marijuana users suffer memory loss and attention problems, researchers report. But in an indication of the controversy surrounding a drug said to be used at least weekly by 7 million people in the United States, a medical expert not involved in the study questioned the findings and whether the alleged adverse impact of the drug persists. February 19, 2002 medicalpost Why I don't prescribe pot federal government has authorized doctors to prescribe marijuana. I disagree with this ruling and offer a few reasons to support my decision. By Reginald Hutchings is a physician in Charlottetown, P.E.I. Thanks to Dr. Mark Roper Friday Jan 25, 2002 cbc POLL SUGGESTS CANADIANS DO NOT UNDERSTAND MEDICAL MARIJUANA RULES A poll conducted for Health Canada shows that Canadians do not seem to understand this country's medical marijuana law. Friday Jan 25, 2002 cbc MORE DRUGS TURNING UP IN LAURENTIANS Police in the Lower Laurentians, north of Montreal, are puzzled by a mysterious number of abandoned marijuana plants in the area. Wed 1/23/02 cbc DOCTORS CAUTIONED WHEN PRESCRIBING MEDICAL MARIJUANA Doctors in Canada say that even though the government has approved the use of medical marijuana, regulations often make it difficult to prescribe. Tuesday Jan 22, 2002 cbc VANCOUVER COPS CLOSE COUNTRY'S FIRST MARIJUANA TEAHOUSE The country's first openly advertised pot house has been shut down, after Vancouver police charged the owners with trafficking and possession of marijuana. Tuesday Jan 8, 2002 MARIJUANA STILL NOT AVAILABLE FOR LEGAL USE cp Hundreds of Canadians who have permission to smoke marijuana for medical purposes are having trouble getting something to smoke. Tuesday, July 31, 2001 QUEBEC DOCTORS NOT KEEN ON MARIJUANA Quebec doctors say they will not prescribe marijuana. Sun 3/11/01 SWISS GOV'T SEEKS TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA Switzerland's marijuana prohibition may soon be a thing of the past. The government is recommending that the Swiss parliament legalize the production, sale and use of marijuana. click for the new news Go Back | Go Forward