02 April 2009

Decriminalize the Dreaded Pot

There is at least one Member of Parliament who is awake to the nonsense of punishing petty pot smokers: Keith Martin.
The Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca MP will submit a private member's bill in the House of Commons today that recommends fines instead of criminal charges for anyone with less than 30 grams of marijuana or two marijuana plants.

It isn't the first time Mr. Martin has tried to bring some sense around the pot problem.
Martin has twice proposed similar private member's bills -- in 2002 and again in 2007 -- but failed both times. What's different now, Martin said, is the move to decriminalize possession of two marijuana plants, which would deter people from going to dealers to get their pot.

Even though Martin is not optimistic about getting this bill passed, he will continue bringing it to the attention of those we've elected.
Though he admits private member's bills virtually never pass, Martin said raising the issue will push his larger goal of making substance abuse a medical issue rather than a judicial one.

Now, if a few hundred more politicians would listen to their constituency and press for changes, it may finally happen.

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