"Our party is in favour of modernizing our marijuana laws and creating a legal environment where people can enjoy marijuana in the peace and quiet of their own home or in a cafe without the fear of being criminalized."
--- Jack Layton, October 2003, POT.TV interview

download this interview from
http://www.pot.tv/archive/shows/pottvshowse-2271.html

Spoken by Ms. Churley to Ontario Parliament:

Let me read to you what this academic from the Fraser Institute says about marijuana growth in BC:

"This paper raises several issues that have the cumulative effect of suggesting that in the long term, the prohibition on marijuana cannot be sustained with the present technology of production and enforcement. To anyone with even a passing acquaintance with modern history, it is apparent that we are reliving the experience of alcohol prohibition of the early years of the last century ... the broader social question becomes less about whether we approve or disapprove of local production, but rather who shall enjoy the spoils. As it stands now, growers and distributors pay some of the costs and reap all of the benefits of the multi-billion dollar marijuana industry, while the non-marijuana-smoking taxpayer sees only costs."

That is directly from an academic conservative who wrote for the Fraser Institute, and I think it sums up the problem we're facing here.

I listened to some of the speeches in the House. I look around, and some of them aren't here. I'm certainly not going to name names, so don't get worried. But some members stand up on their hind legs and are just incredibly self-righteous and pious. They talk about how bad marijuana use is and they should all be thrown in jail etc. Well, I've seen some of those members in certain circumstances drunk as skunks, from time to time. It's been legal. I haven't seen them get in a car and drive, so I'm not criticizing. It's legal in our society, as long as you don't hurt anybody else, to go to a party or whatever, drink alcohol, stagger around and do whatever. I have seen members in this House from time to time in that state, but that's OK because it's legal. Well, let's not get too pious about that. Let's not get too self-righteous about that.


There is an overwhelming amount of evidence - and I'm not saying any drug, including alcohol. We know the incredible harm that alcohol can cause to humans, both financially and psychologically: the breakup of marriage, drunk driving, fights, kids; you name it. It's an incredibly harmful substance, like tobacco. But because it was legalized, for whatever reason - because people liked it and were using it anyway, somewhat as the Fraser Institute said is happening with marijuana right now - society agreed that every method they tried to bring in to stop the sale and to ban these illegal substances, particularly alcohol, was not working; just as the Fraser Institute said that marijuana is a multi-billion-dollar industry controlled by crime and that society in general does not reap any benefits from it but in fact pays the price.

I was looking today at another article about the possible medical benefits of marijuana. I don't know if any of you have friends who are licensed. Eventually that got taken care of, but it took a long time. I have a friend, James Wakeford, and some others who are living with AIDS and were finally licensed. There are all kinds of illnesses that we now know about, and the federal government allows them to smoke marijuana to help with their symptoms. But they were put in a position where they had to go and buy it from the biker down the street or downtown or wherever, because there was no legal way to get it. What a ridiculous position. Also, I think my friend James was arrested, or at least threatened with arrest, for growing his own, even though he was ill and was allowed to smoke it, because it was still illegal to grow it. He didn't want to go out there and deal with crime. He was growing his own quite openly and was at least threatened with arrest.

I was reading a very interesting article today - I don't know if anybody here saw it - in the Globe and Mail. "Not Ready for 'A Joint a Day'" is the title of this article. They've just done some initial tests on mice, and it says:

"Low doses of the main active ingredient in marijuana slowed the progression of hardening of the arteries in mice, suggesting a hint for developing a new therapy in people.

"Experts stressed that the finding does not mean people should smoke marijuana in hopes of getting the same benefit," at least at this point.

"'..."A joint a day will keep the doctor away," I think is premature,' said Dr. Peter Libby."

Mr. Patten: It's worth a try.

Ms. Churley: Mr. Patten says, "It's worth a try." Hey, if it can keep the arteries from hardening - "chief of cardiovascular medicine at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital."

Then he goes on to talk about what the study showed. But it just makes me aware, and we all should be aware, of what an incredibly dangerous drug culture we live in.


Can we choose buds over booze?

My colleague Peter Kormos, for fun, read into the record the other day a recipe for majoun. I travelled in Morocco when I was a young woman and actually came face to face on some occasions with majoun. He read into the record what it is and how to make it.

You mix up a quarter ounce of the tops, just the tops, of cannabis sativa -I believe that's the flowery part - of the sweetest kif you can get, crumbled, stems and seeds removed, a cup of chopped dates, half a cup of raisins, half a cup of ground walnuts, a teaspoon of ground nutmeg, a teaspoon of aniseed, a teaspoon of dried ginger, half a cup of honey, half a cup of water - use more if needed - and two tablespoons of melted butter or ghee.

It even tells you how to cook it. It says, "In a dry skillet, toast the marijuana over very low heat until it begins to release an aroma. Combine it with the dried fruit, walnuts, spices, honey and water and cook until the ingredients are soft. Remove to a heavy bowl and mash the pulp until the ingredients are well blended, or put into a food processor and blend, using several short pulses. Add the butter and stir until blended. Spoon into a jar and store in the refrigerator. Serve on crackers, eat by the fingerful or use as a filling for mamoul."

I remember when I came face to face with this as I was traveling around Morocco. There was chocolate, sometimes, mixed in with this fruit as well, which I hear could make it extremely delicious. When people started to eat it, because of the chocolate in it, one of the problems was that, because of the impact of the marijuana, they couldn't stop eating it. You just kept wanting to eat. I've been told that's what happened.

The reason I bring this up - this was many years ago, when I was a young woman traveling around - is the difference in cultures. I don't think it was necessarily legal, although it might have been over there, but it was a complete reversal of our societal attitude toward alcohol and marijuana. I'm just giving you this information to illustrate how different it can be.


Waiting for Canada to legalize...

In Morocco, I was stunned to see and find out that everybody ate majoun. They had their little sipsis with sweet kif at the end of them - their little pipes - and sat around in cafés smoking it. It was pretty much part of normal life. But alcohol was frowned upon and illegal. I remember the perversity - it's just the opposite of what we see here - of some local people coming to me and some of the Westerners who lived there at the time and asking if we could go and buy them a bottle of wine. We would meet in some dark corner somewhere and I would hand it over. I would get nothing in return. Don't think there was any exchange going on; I would do it as a favour.

I'm not kidding. It's the complete reverse of what happens over here in the Western world with marijuana. The bottles would be hidden under the djellaba, and off they'd go. It just goes to show that where you have a prohibition on a drug, there's much more likelihood that it's going to be used in an unwise way. There's no control over it whatsoever. People are sneaking around, like they are now, with marijuana. It is not in any way controlled or regulated by the government.

I see that my time is rapidly running out here. I just have to end with this. The legislation before us is not going to stop this problem. It's hardly going to make a dent in it. We have to look at what they're doing on the federal level. I support what they're doing but I believe that we cannot stop there. The next step is for the government to start controlling it and regulating it. That would stop the criminal element, it would regulate it properly and it would increase the revenue for the government by many billions of dollars, I believe. I hear Mr. Klees sighing. But if you look at the evidence and read the Fraser report, the Fraser Institute agrees with me on this.


From Ontario Hansard, April 7, 2005

From www.libbydavies.ca

CONTRADICTORY POT LAWS IN NEED OF IMMEDIATE REFORM - DAVIES

13 SEPTEMBER, 2004, OTTAWA - Libby Davies, NDP MP from Vancouver East, called today on Prime Minister Paul Martin to move quickly to re-introduce marijuana reforms when Parliament returns in October.

"In light of Marc Emery's arrest last month for "passing a joint" and the recent arrests on Commercial Drive, Parliament needs to have a realistic discussion about the laws governing adult marijuana use," said Davies.

"We are seeing huge legal problems with the lack of rational and just laws governing marijuana," said Jack Layton, Leader of the Federal NDP.

Marc Emery, President of the BC Marijuana Party, is currently serving a sentence for trafficking after sharing two marijuana cigarettes with others after an anti-prohibition talk in Saskatchewan.

"Many are likely not aware but "sharing a joint" is considered trafficking under our current federal laws," said Davies. "I had an amendment when Parliament considered changes to the marijuana laws last fall which would have struck this from the books, but the Liberal dominated committee voted it down."

Yesterday on Commercial Drive in Vancouver police raided a store that was openly selling marijuana and arrested six.

"These sorts of situations are going to continue if Paul Martin and the federal government refuse to face the issue, and as result lives are ruined because of criminal convictions. And communities and local business will be unfairly affected by police raids," said the Vancouver East MP.

The Federal NDP will continue to push for changes to the marijuana laws when Parliament resumes this fall. These will include: amnesty for past possession convictions, reduction or elimination of fines for personal possession, and non-punitive measures for personal cultivation.

From the Province, August 4, 2005

NDP Candidate Svend Robinson

" The arrest of marijuana activist Marc Emery and colleagues Gregory williams and Michelle Rainey-Fenkarek at the behest of the U.S. Drig Enforcement Administration is an outrage.

Canadians should demand that Prime Minister Paul Martin and our political leaders show some spine and strongly condemn this attack on Canadian sovereignty...

Surely it is time that Canada listens to the voices of people like Vancouver East MP Libby Davies, BC Senator Larry Campbell and the Canadian Senate, and accepts that a prohibitionist, US-style war on drugs is an expensive failure – that we should move to a non-punitive, regulatory approach to marijuana.

It is precisely because Marc Emery has been a leading advocate for this approach that I believe he is now being targetted by US authorities. "

To Tim Meehen,

" Thank you very much for your support. Please be assured that our campaign
strongly supports Jack Layton's position on Canada's marijuana laws. Our
headquarters is located at 1407B Bank Street. We'd love to see you in and
are certainly prepared to renew your membership at any time. Our phone
number is 739-1212.

Kevin Kinsella,
Campaign Manager,
Henri Sader Campaign
(613) 739-1212
kevin@henrisader.ca

"I never exhaled."

- Jack Layton, Canadian NDP Leader, replying to reporter's questions about whether he has ever smoked pot, during the 2004 federal campaign.

"Jack Layton and Howard Hampton will be true to their promise that they will put an end to prohibition. Canadians from all walks of life and generations are enjoying trainloads of marijuana. The solution is to legalize it, regulate it, tax it and control it."

- Peter Kormos, Ontario NDP House Leader, and MPP for Niagara Centre, at the 2004 "Green Truth" summit.

August 2005 Press Release from Libby Davies, Deputy Leader of Canada's NDP and MP for Vancouver East:

-----
The federal NDP opposes the extradition of Marc Emery, Gregory Keith Williams and Michelle Rainey-Fenkarek to the United States. We believe it is wrong to extradite people for an offence that would not - and in this case, did not - result in them being charged in Canada.

In the U.S. they face a minimum 10-year sentence which could be raised to a life sentence. The federal NDP believes we should not be sending individuals to face harsh punishment in another country when we have agreed as a society their actions are not worthy of prosecution here in Canada.

This case once again points to the confusing and contradictory nature of the federal Liberal government's marijuana laws. We should recognize that the arrests of these Canadian citizens is more related to political pressure on Canada to cooperate with the U.S. war on drugs than on any harm that has been created by the actions of these individuals.

I will continue to urge Justice Minister Irwin Cotler to consider Canadian justice in his decision on this case and not be swayed by the laws and practices of the U.S.

Libby Davies MP
Vancouver East
-----

"The NDP wishes to draw attention to the serious problems and flaws in the federal government's medical marijuana program. The current regulations of the program are very restrictive, overly bureaucratic and severely limit access by Canadians who have a legitimate need for medical marijuana. These restrictions should be lifted now."

- Llibby Davies, December 2003, update on the proposed federal marijuana laws

"Public policy must also recognise that prohibitionist policies continue to fuel organised crime and other violent organisations in our society. Prohibiting drugs creates a black market that greatly inflates the value of drugs - and the profits to be made by selling them."

- Libby Davies, December 2003

"The federal NDP wants examine what a non-punitive, regulatory, approach to adult marijuana use with an emphasis on prevention, education and health promotion would look like. Marijuana policy needs to eliminate the criminalization of users and focus on reducing harms and preventing crime. The federal government should be putting resources behind public education rather than criminal prosecution. Taking the example of tobacco, consistent and strong messaging on the health risks of tobacco has significantly dropped consumption."

- Libby Davies, December 2003

"It might fit. That's going to have to be a decision made as we look at the particular medications in consultation with the medical profession. I've drawn a lot of inspiration from those who are tackling catastrophic illnesses and who are seeking the support for medical use."

- Jack Layton, discussing the possibility of medical marijuana being covered by Pharmacare, May 2004.

"If it's something that's recognized as a therapeutic course of treatment or something that deals with somebody's symptoms and it's medically prescribed, then I guess the question is why wouldn't it be available on the same basis as other substances?"

- Libby Davies discussing the possibility of medical marijuana being covered by Pharmacare, May 2004.

"We need some sort of legalized regime, and we want the federal government to take a much stronger position for a non-punitive, rules-based approach to drugs. Jack Layton will deal with this very forthrightly in the campaign. In many places, this is an issue people will want to look at, and we want to be part of bringing about change. This could be a first step toward dealing with our ridiculous prohibition laws."

- Libby Davies, interview by DRCnet, May 2004

My personal, and the Party’s, position on cannabis/marijuana are the same.
[...]
I personally believe that smoking pot should be handling in the way that we handle alcohol: reasonably easy access for adult use, prohibition on use in “safety” situations such as driving and equipment use, penalties for distribution to under-aged users. Cannabis should be normal agriculture product, perhaps with some controls to control “free-harvesting”. The Party has committed to introduce a non-punitive rule-based approach to deal with adult marijuana use.

I believe that the legal/open medicinal use of cannabis should be just as easy and reliable as obtaining any other medicinal medicine. That simple prescription by a health care practitioner (such as: a medical doctor, nurse practitioner, registered natural health/herbal care giver) and easy access of a reasonably priced/ODSB schedule of a quality product (such as at a drug store) should occur.

Lynn Bowering
Brant NDP Federal Candidate

Jennifer Burgis
NDP candidate Saanich-Gulf Islands
January 5th, 2006 All-candidates meeting

"I think it is time to decriminalize the use of marijuana. What really is a larger concern to us is the kind of billion dollar economy and trade that is underlying the trade in marijuana. If we can't get a handle on where those dollars are and what kind of criminal trade they're driving - We need to define better what is happening in the drug community.

"To instantly link marijuana to crime in the drug trade is a pretty wide consideration.

"The government is trying to grow marijuana in a mineshaft in Manitoba and isn't doing as good a job as they do in British Columbia. So I think there is a definite need to consider marijuana for medical usage and to allow our young people and even some of our older people to travel back and
forth in North America without getting penalties for what they may have done around a small piece of marijuana - I do condone the government selling marijuana for medical purposes."

Thanks for starting this essential forum thread!



It backs up this banner:

"I support the conclusions of the 2002 Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs Final Report on Cannabis."

"I believe that the prohibitionist approach to drug policy as it relates to
cannabis is causing more harm than good. Learning from history, we
should acknowledge that legal, regulated access to cannabis would be
better for our society then criminalizing regular people who choose to
use cannabis."

"I am personally opposed to the extradition of anyone -including Marc Emery- for actions which at worst are considered minor offences in Canada, as this just adds to the impression that we support the United State's so-called war on drugs."

-- Nicholas Simons, BC NDP MLA, Powell River - Sunshine Coast

Not a response from the coward .

Letters and phony calls to shit,protest is all that gets attention.
Any corner any time
Libby set up any protest /?

"Oh, I'm outraged, I see this as a purely political maneuver by the U.S. government and the Drug Czar. It's political pressure," says Libby Davies, Member of Parliament - the equivalent of a U.S. member of Congress - from East Vancouver. Emery's bookstore office, where he sold the seeds, is near her district. "What is he guilty of - selling marijuana seeds on the Internet. He's been doing that for over a decade, and no one in Canada has prosecuted him.

"There's not a shadow of a doubt in my mind that this is entirely politically motivated, and it is to back Canada into a corner," she adds, "sort of the old adage from Bush, 'Are you with us or are you agin' us?'"

Libby Davies, Sept 2005

This is a 1998 letter against the global drug war, sent to UN head Kofi Annan, signed by dozens of legislators around the world, as well as many dozens more academics, professionals and other prominent people.

This letter was signed by a dozen elected Canadian NDP MPs, listed below. (I put an * next to the names of those MPs who are still in office.)

No other elected person from any other Canadian party signed this letter.

-----

Letter to UN Secretary General, Koffi Annan

June 1, 1998

Mr. Kofi Annan
Secretary General
United Nations
New York, NY

Dear Secretary General,

On the occasion of the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Drugs in New York on June 8-10, 1998, we seek your leadership in stimulating a frank and honest evaluation of global drug control efforts.

We are all deeply concerned about the threat that drugs pose to our children, our fellow citizens and our societies. There is no choice but to work together, both within our countries and across borders, to reduce the harms associated with drugs. The United Nations has a legitimate and important role to play in this regard -- but only if it is willing to ask and address tough questions about the success or failure of its efforts.

We believe that the global war on drugs is now causing more harm than drug abuse itself.

Every decade the United Nations adopts new international conventions, focused largely on criminalization and punishment, that restrict the ability of individual nations to devise effective solutions to local drug problems. Every year governments enact more punitive and costly drug control measures. Every day politicians endorse harsher new drug war strategies.

What is the result? U.N. agencies estimate the annual revenue generated by the illegal drug industry at $400 billion, or the equivalent of roughly eight per cent of total international trade. This industry has empowered organized criminals, corrupted governments at all levels, eroded internal security, stimulated violence, and distorted both economic markets and moral values. These are the consequences not of drug use per se, but of decades of failed and futile drug war policies.

In many parts of the world, drug war politics impede public health efforts to stem the spread of HIV, hepatitis and other infectious diseases. Human rights are violated, environmental assaults perpetrated and prisons inundated with hundreds of thousands of drug law violators. Scarce resources better expended on health, education and economic development are squandered on ever more expensive interdiction efforts. Realistic proposals to reduce drug-related crime, disease and death are abandoned in favor of rhetorical proposals to create drug-free societies.

Persisting in our current policies will only result in more drug abuse, more empowerment of drug markets and criminals, and more disease and suffering. Too often those who call for open debate, rigorous analysis of current policies, and serious consideration of alternatives are accused of "surrendering." But the true surrender is when fear and inertia combine to shut off debate, suppress critical analysis, and dismiss all alternatives to current policies. Mr. Secretary General, we appeal to you to initiate a truly open and honest dialogue regarding the future of global drug control policies - one in which fear, prejudice and punitive prohibitions yield to common sense, science, public health and human rights.

Yours sincerely,

*Alexa McDonough, MP, Federal Leader of New Democratic Party
*Libby Davies, NDP MP (Vancouver-East, BC)
*Patrick Martin, NDP MP (Winnipeg Centre, MB)
*Peter Stoffer, NDP MP (Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS)
*Yvon Godin, NDP MP (Acadie-Bathurst, NB)
Bev Desjarlais, NDP MP (Churchill, MB)
Lorne Nystrom, NDP MP (Qu'Appelle, SK)
Svend Robinson, NDP MP (Burnaby-Douglas, BC)
Chris Axworthy, NDP MP, Saskatoon
Gordon S. Earle, NDP MP (Halifax West, NB)
Rick Laliberte, NDP MP, (Churchill River, SK)
Wendy Lill, NDP MP, (Dartmouth, NS)

For a copy of this letter with a list of all elected officials worldwide who signed it:
http://www.csdp.org/edcs/figure25.htm

For a copy of this letter with a list of all prominent Canadians who signed it:
http://www.cfdp.ca/uncan.html

"It is like the person who has just become Canada's Prime Minister, the Hon. member for Vancouver Centre [Kim Campbell]. She said before her campaign began that she had smoked marijuana. When asked during the leadership campaign she said she had smoked marijuana but she did not break any law by doing it. Every dean of law in the country said that was not true. If one smoked marijuana, one broke the law.

"Five hundred and thirty thousand Canadians have a criminal record for smoking marijuana. They are all supposed to keep their criminal records. They cannot get bonded jobs. They cannot do .anything but it is okay. A person can be the Prime Minister of Canada and break the law. Also, you can say that because you are who you are you did not break the law.

"Canadians are getting really sick of this stuff. I am getting really sick of it.

"There is one law for the grand elevated elite who sit on the government side as Prime Minister or whatever. The law applies only to the great unwashed. It applies to those Canadians who have to pay the taxes and the piper."

Jim Fulton, NDP MP
Speaking in Parliament
June 14, 1993

Bev Desjardins ran as an independent and lost in the January 2006 election.

530,000 people=530,000 votes.Elect someone who can do something about it.One step closer to equality.

"I would suggest that prohibition has never worked. I'm reminded of an interview I heard with a Drug Enforcement Agency officer, who had resigned and converted to a position that this was a health issue. He asked the interviewer: 'What was the first prohibition?' The interviewer was quick. The interviewer answered: 'Garden of Eden, I suppose.' The officer replied, 'You're right. And who was the cop, and how many people did he have to police?' — or she, for that matter. That was a failure."

BC NDP MLA Doug Routley
speaking in the Legislature, May 2006

Mr. Speaker, the decision of the U.S. supreme court yesterday to criminalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes and strike down state laws, which permitted the same, reveals the tragic dogmatism at the heart of the official American attitude toward drugs. They are committed to a prohibitionist, universally criminalizing strategy that is ineffective and particularly unfair to Americans in need of cannabis for therapeutic purposes.

Canada fortunately seems tentatively headed in a more intelligent and compassionate direction. Not only have our courts ruled differently on medical marijuana and our government responded accordingly but there is a growing chorus of established opinion for a different approach to the possession of marijuana for personal use.

The Canadian Medical Association has joined the Canadian Association of Police Chiefs in asking that such an approach be seriously considered. These voices should be seriously listened to. Canadians and their government should continue to seek a superior alternative to the failed approach entrenched in the United States of America.

Mr. Bill Blaikie, NDP MP (Winnipeg—Transcona)
Speaking in Parliament, Tuesday, May 15, 2001

"I think it is madness for young people to end up with criminal records for the simple possession of marijuana. I tried it once, but I've never smoked a cigarette and I didn't know how to do it."

NDP leader Alexa McDonough to a cheering crowd on MuchMusic, during 1997 election campaign

"I'm a creature of my generation like a lot of other people who turned 18 in 1969, but it's been a long time since I inhaled or exhaled. But I think it's long overdue that we stop making criminals out of people who choose to smoke marijuana."

NDP MP Bill Blaikie, during the 2003 Leadership convention

"Six or seven million Canadians have tried marijuana. Are they criminals? I don't think so. What we do need to do is take a sensible approach."

Jack Layton, during the 2003 NDP Leadership Convention

Pierre Ducasse also admitted to smoking marijuana once. "I think we should legalize it and put it under state control and take it out of the black market," he said.

Newspaper quote on Pierre Ducasse's comments during the 2003 NDP Leadership Convention.

Ontario MP Joe Comartin said he has never smoked pot, but suggested that marijuana be legalized and distributed "like a liquor control board."

Vancouver activist Bev Meslo wouldn't say if she had ever smoked pot, but says she would support regulation and that marijuana "should grow like grass."

Newspaper quote on Joe Comartin and Bev Meslo's marijuana comments during the 2003 NDP Leadership Convention.

"I would be pleased to be part of a government that legalized the possession of marijuana."

BC NDP MLA Corky Evans (Nelson-Creston)
Letter to constituent,June 28, 2006

i will be having dinner with corky here for our annual ndp summer thing,,,we will stress that this enlightened legislator is,,,,HIM !!!! or should be
its high time they (ndp)start to realize this,
as its them ,,,that are supposed to it.
its policy,,,get it.
where is the leadership.

Thus I see no (real) contradiction between support for legalization in the future and opposition to criminal behaviour while we wait for enlightened governance.

I cannot accept that from an elected official in a party that claims to stand for civil libertarianism and democratic socialism.

If a law is unjust, there is absolutely no reason to defend its enforcement and the prosecution of those who disobey it.

Join the Liberals you cowardly worthless fuck.

"The message here is that prohibition has been an utter failure. What we need is realistic education so people know what effects of marijuana are and how to be responsible in using it similar to what we've done with smoking and drinking."

Libby Davies, NDP MP, House Leader
June 28, 2006. Media interview about UN report against marijuana

"The war on drugs has been a terrible failure. All of us [former Vancouver Mayors] agree that there is a better way, and Insite is an integral part of that. It needs to be kept going. Evidence and support for it are overwhelming."

"There are two choices - one is dumb and the other is intelligent. The dumb choice is the one we've been following since the 1930's."

- Comments by Mike Harcourt, former Mayor of Vancouver and former BC NDP Premier, speaking about Canada's failed drug war, at a press conference in support of Vancouver's safe injection site, August 21, 2006.

The article also says of Harcourt that "he became aware of the failure of the war on drugs while practising criminal law as a young man."

I have to commend the general populace of Canada for two things, that I can think of off the top of my head, 1. The efforts and pressure being put on the government to end its own war on drugs. The old saying "There is always a first." comes to mind. I am glad to see my northern neighbors stepping out there and being the first to legalize marijuana and end prohibition.

2. From what I have gathered the general populace of Canada is behind keeping its own citizens away from the laws and punishments of another country. I am expecting a favorable outcome in regards to the BC3.

All I am left to say is: "Keep up the hard work." When Canada becomes the first country to end drug prohibition and legalize marijuana other countries will follow. Plus, God bless Canada!

"Toronto reaches out to thousands of drug users annually through needle exchange and methadone programs. Despite successful harm reduction programs in municipalities across Canada including Toronto, Ottawa, and Winnipeg, the recent federal budget removes harm reduction from Canada’s drug strategy and commits millions of new dollars for enforcement."

NDP MP Peggy Nash (Parkdale-High Park)
http://www.ndp.ca/page/5552

"Criminalizing this public health problem with a heavy handed US style war on drugs only serves to create a culture of fear instead of addressing the root causes and problems of drug use in Canada."

Cheri DiNovo, Ontario NDP MMP
July 27, 2007
http://www.ndp.ca/page/5552

Letter from NDP Leader Jack Layton, December 2007

---
The introduction of Bill C-26, an Act to amend the Controlled Drug and Substances Act, "to provide minimum penalties for serious drug offences", is yet another example of the Conservatives taking Canada in the wrong direction.

The NDP is opposing this Bill. We feel that a heavy-handed US style war-on-drugs only serves to create a culture of fear and will not make our communities any safer. For more information on our position, I encourage you to read a recent article by NDP MP Libby Davies at: http://www.rabble.ca/news_full_story.shtml?x=64925.

With regards to the decriminalization of marijuana, we are the only national party that actually has a resolution and a policy for decriminalization. And, in advocating that position, we understand that we need a drug policy that does not rely primarily on our legal system. This policy must be part of a broader drug strategy that focuses on a health based approach, as recommended by a 2002 Special Committee on the Non-Medical Use of Drugs on which NDP MP Libby Davies played an important role.

We want Canada to take steps that reflect a more intelligent and compassionate direction on marijuana use. Not only have our courts ruled differently on medical marijuana and our government responded accordingly but also there is a growing chorus of established opinion for a different approach to the possession of marijuana for personal use.Decriminalization, we believe, is a first step, but it is not the only step. It is a first step to what needs to be an open debate about the failure of the current practices and the need to focus on the real issues such as: avoiding needless criminalization of citizens; and working with youth on health and social effects - particularly impaired driving.

Once again, thank you for contacting me this matter.

Sincerely,

Jack Layton MP (Toronto-Danforth)
Leader, New Democratic Party of Canada
---

Received this today from a recent email to the NDP:



peace and pot

"Since about 1979, we have been engaged in a war on drugs that has caused uncounted casualties all over the world. It has led to dramatic problems in developing countries and to the incarceration facilities in our neighbour to the south being absolutely loaded with individuals.

"Right now in Canada the illegal drug trade is estimated to be about $10 billion. Of that, $8 billion is cannabis. Canadians obviously partake in this substance on a regular basis. We can increase the degree of intensity that we put toward those who produce it, but we will not change the market. The bill goes in the wrong direction."

- NDP MP Dennis Bevington (Western Arctic), speaking about proposed Conservative drug law in Parliament, Feb 4, 2008

LIBBY DAVIES REJECTS REPORT ATTACKING SAFE INJECTION SITE

MARCH 05, 2008 - OTTAWA - NDP Deputy Leader Libby Davies today rejected a United Nations International Narcotics Control Board’s (INCB) report attacking harm reduction programmes in Canada.

"The INCB’s claim that Vancouver’s InSite safe injection site and other harm reduction programmes are illegal is completely unfounded. In fact, the legal opinion of the UN’s own Drugs and Crime Program is that harm reduction programs like InSite do not violate international treaties," said Davies. "InSite is providing life-saving health services, and is in complete compliance with the law."

Davies comments came in response to release of the INCB’s 2008 Annual Report, which called for the Canadian government to put an end to safe injection sites and other harm reduction programmes. The INCB report appears to contradict the UN General Assembly, the World Health Organization, and other international agencies that have supported harm-reduction as an answer to drug-related health problems.

"We need rational policies that save lives by helping prevent drug overdoses and the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C. Instead, the INCB wants to force us to adopt failed US style drug war strategies," said Davies. "The INCB is out of touch with current medical research and out of touch with Canadian realities. The INCB needs to be reformed."

As the NDP Spokesperson for Drug Policy, Davies has met with community organizations and health groups across the country to promote harm reduction as part of Canada’s National Drug Strategy.

"The InSite program has been embraced by municipal government, local law-enforcement, local businesses and the general community who see the positive changes on our streets, and the reduced strain on our policing and health services," added Davies. "Scientists and activists accept the positive findings from the study from InSite, and like so many Vancouverites, I’m proud that this effective program is part of our community."

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it has a pleasure reading a few of the sudmissions on the forum. in canada there are millions of supporters for the legalization of cannabis in canada. the few statistics that i have seen proves to me that the final days on illegal marijuana is over.thank you to all the many leaders in this great time of change. the discrimination of so many people in our democratic country is working out for the good. fight the good fight marc and friends your liberation day is coming. come celebrate another cannabis day july first canada day. peace and love to one and all, from; renney b.

Perhaps its time for the Canadian Government to take a page from the Netherlands. As Mr. Emery pointed out, pot is a multi-billion dollar industry. Conversely the Canadian government has wasted, no pun intended, billions of dollars on prosecuting pot smokers. To what end...the government, both American and Canadian can not even control the flow of pot in their own respective penial systems. Yet they insist that the War on Drugs is being won. Decriminalize and/or legalize it, tax it and let everyone reap the rewards. I look forward to entering a cafe here in Canada, as I have in the Netherlands, and asking for the menu and enjoy a consistant product.

"I find is that it is elected representatives who are the ones who are the most far behind on this. We are actually afraid to take this issue on. In many regards the public is way ahead of us. The public understands that the war on drugs has been a failure. It has been a colossal failure in terms of the human costs, in terms of economic costs, and in terms of public policy. We are the ones who are afraid to admit the reality of what the war on drugs and prohibition has done."

- NDP MP Libby Davies, Deputy Leader and Drug Policy Critic, speaking in Parliament, March 2009

"The NDP does not think the bill should go through. It is not based on good public policy. It is going to be harmful and expensive. It is really time to embark on a common sense approach and accept the overwhelming evidence that the war on drugs has caused more death, pain, harm and crime than we can bear. It is time to stop it.

"I do not think that is going to happen overnight. However, let us at least have the courage to see what has failed and see the alternatives. We could begin with marijuana, real education, and look to decriminalization or even legalization, or we could continue on the tragic course of playing on people's fear and trying to convince people that tougher laws will make it all go away. It will not. Let us say no to the bill. Let us adopt a public health approach and do the right thing."

- NDP MP Libby Davies, speaking about the Conservative drug bill, Parliament March 2009.

Well, that seems like a pretty clear public policy stance. Thank you very much for all your hard work on the NDP Dana, and I hope you can make even more progress!

It's wonderful lip service and it's exceptionally confusing since Jack has recently said the NDP doesn't support legalization. The NDP is as confusing as they are ineffective in my eyes so far. These are great things that they are saying in the halls of government where these things actually matter though. I'm curious to see what they do in committee.

Cheers

i thank liddy davies and the ndp for standing up for the rights and freedoms of all canadians. why would anyone vote yes to send another to jail for one pot plant? i know what the cons are trying to do; they are trying to kill even the mmar... these guys are wicked but they are driven by greed, power and money so what do you expect, how can the blind lead the blind... for over a hundred years their prohibitionist policy have blinded the eyes of the masses and their day of reckoning has come... canada and canadians must fight for our rights to the tree of life, move forward to legalize cannabis / hemp and end this old war on drugs... whoever still believes in reefer madness is living in fear and i know the cannabis / hemp culture is not afraid... there might be a problem with gang violence on the streets but, recriminalizing drugs will not solve that; deal with the offender, why should the good suffer for the bad...the reasons why there is violence, finding the root causes and come to a resolution... the bondage of prohibition has failed and we do not need to revisit it; let us move on to a more balanced approach to conflict and addiction in our communities across canada... 'jesus died so that we might have life and have it more abundantly; the rasta man say, herb is the healing of the nations and jah saw that it was good...' peace and love , from;ren b.

After seeing how ALL other parties "say one thing" but when elected "do another" time after time, year after year, decade after decade. How can any Canadian not see the same thing if and when the NDP ever did get in federally?

We have already seen dicention in the ranks, one says one thing and one says another? The NDP haven't even been elected and they can not decide what side of the cannabis debate to be on?

I am not blaming any party in particular, It is the system they work in that causes this seniro. It has been fine tuned over the years by BIG business and Banking to control the masses.

Until our goverment stops holding hands with these types organizations, voting does nothing for the lowly Canadian citizen who is promised the world then gets excuses!

What guarantees does the NDP have that they will not flip flop like every other government ever in power in Canada??

Vaper

If the Conservatives do lose the head of government we would need a majority to see weed modernized. That being said I don't think it is the first thing on the agenda. I love weed just as much as the next person here but i think we are still 10-20 years from where we need to be to the betterment of people

You would think that this lady would be leading the charge since her riding is in the Kensington market however, she was very quick to roll over on her husband's legacy to support Mulcair.



Regardless of what we all think we should do, I don't see the legalization of pot until the USA has done so or agreed to such...

I am much more concerned with losing the right to grow in 2014 if Harper has his way...

Grassy