Keith Fagin
10-03-2008, 10:15 PM
Canadian Cannabis Coalition (http://cannabiscoalition.ca/) - http://cannabiscoalition.ca/docs/CCC_PR_BillC26_081001.pdf
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2008
Harper ignores strong public support for cannabis law reform
Two-thirds of Canadians think simple possession of cannabis shouldn't be a criminal offense, and more than
half are ready for a legal, regulated market, yet Stephen Harper wants to take Canada in the opposite
direction.
Cannabis is an accepted part of Canadian culture, but if Stephen Harper wins the upcoming election he will
revive legislation that, for the first time in Canadian history, imposes mandatory minimum sentences for
cannabis related offences. Even the growing of a single plant would result in a mandatory prison sentence.
In proposing this legislation (Bill C-26), Justice Minister Rob Nicholson said he hoped this new law would
help "put organized crime out of business."
"Nicholson couldn't have possibly believed that," says Canadian Cannabis Coalition member, Keith Fagin,
"the Department of Justice did a study in 2002 and concluded mandatory minimums have no measurable
affect on drug consumption or drug-related crime. I'm sure the Justice Minister has access to that report."
Darryl Plecas, a criminologist at the University College of the Fraser Valley, who generally supports tougher
sentences, has expressed doubt the legislation would have any real deterrent effect on organized crime and
would necessitate the building of more prisons.
"You're going to have hundreds, if not thousands, of people going to jail who aren't going now," Plecas was
quoted saying in a November 2007 Vancouver Sun article.
"Prohibition fuels gangs and violence", says CCC member, Debra Harper, "so common sense tells us
replacing prohibition with a regulated market will benefit us all. This legislation will make Canada less safe,
not more.?
The CCC is appealing to the public to recognize the serious harm the Harper anti-drug strategy will cause,
and to please call your Member of Parliament and urge them not to support it.
The Canadian Cannabis Coalition is a national umbrella group for cannabis law reform advocates and
organizations. Our goal is to help end the counter-productive policy of cannabis prohibition by educating the
public about a reality best summarized by the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs in 2002:
"The continued prohibition of cannabis jeopardizes the health and well-being of
Canadians much more than does the substance itself."
For more information, contact:
Keith Fagin: 403-863-2071
Debra Harper: ***-***-****
http://www.CannabisCoalition.ca
- 30
-
Related References:
Bill C-26
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E&Parl=39&Ses=1&Mode=1&Pub=Bill&Doc=C-26_1&File=24
Bill C-26: Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Cannabis Offences
Resource links and proposed sentences chart
http://www.cannabisfacts.ca/mandatoryminimums.html
Canadian cannabis related polling stats
http://frankdiscussion.net/info_statistics.html
Canadian Majority Would Legalize Marijuana
May 13, 2008 - Angus Reid Global Monitor
"53% of Canadians support the legalization of marijuana"
http://www.angusreid.com/polls/view/30688/canadian_majority_would_legalize_marijuana/
Full Report (PDF) http://www.angus-reid.com/uppdf/2008.05.12_Drugs.pdf
Maclean's Poll 2006: What we believe
http://www.macleans.ca/article.jsp?content=20060701_130104_130104
B.C. will need more jail space for pot growers
November 22, 2007 - Vancouver Sun
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/story.html?id=583d5aeb-4e54-4712-935f-14a37b4275ed&k=72082
"You basically need a new prison to facilitate that," said Darryl Plecas, a criminologist at the University
College of the Fraser Valley who has studied marijuana sentencing. "You're going to have hundreds, if not
thousands, of people going to jail who aren't going now."
Tories crack down on drug dealers and grow-ops
November 20, 2007 - CanWest News Service
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/politics/story.html?id=3fd63517-bbbc-4a56-8edbefe26738d417&k=24604
"Drug producers and dealers threaten the safety of our communities, they must face tougher penalties,"said
Justice Minister Rob Nicholson at a press conference following the bill's introduction in the House of
Commons. "We want to put organized crime out of business in this country."
Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs, 2002
"Cannabis: Our Position for a Canadian Public Policy"
http://www.senatereport.ca
"MANDATORY MINIMUM PENALTIES: Their Effects on Crime, Sentencing Disparities, and
Justice System Expenditures"
Department of Justice Canada - Research and Statistics Division - January 2002
http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/rs/rep-rap/2002/rr02_1/rr02_1.pdf
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2008
Harper ignores strong public support for cannabis law reform
Two-thirds of Canadians think simple possession of cannabis shouldn't be a criminal offense, and more than
half are ready for a legal, regulated market, yet Stephen Harper wants to take Canada in the opposite
direction.
Cannabis is an accepted part of Canadian culture, but if Stephen Harper wins the upcoming election he will
revive legislation that, for the first time in Canadian history, imposes mandatory minimum sentences for
cannabis related offences. Even the growing of a single plant would result in a mandatory prison sentence.
In proposing this legislation (Bill C-26), Justice Minister Rob Nicholson said he hoped this new law would
help "put organized crime out of business."
"Nicholson couldn't have possibly believed that," says Canadian Cannabis Coalition member, Keith Fagin,
"the Department of Justice did a study in 2002 and concluded mandatory minimums have no measurable
affect on drug consumption or drug-related crime. I'm sure the Justice Minister has access to that report."
Darryl Plecas, a criminologist at the University College of the Fraser Valley, who generally supports tougher
sentences, has expressed doubt the legislation would have any real deterrent effect on organized crime and
would necessitate the building of more prisons.
"You're going to have hundreds, if not thousands, of people going to jail who aren't going now," Plecas was
quoted saying in a November 2007 Vancouver Sun article.
"Prohibition fuels gangs and violence", says CCC member, Debra Harper, "so common sense tells us
replacing prohibition with a regulated market will benefit us all. This legislation will make Canada less safe,
not more.?
The CCC is appealing to the public to recognize the serious harm the Harper anti-drug strategy will cause,
and to please call your Member of Parliament and urge them not to support it.
The Canadian Cannabis Coalition is a national umbrella group for cannabis law reform advocates and
organizations. Our goal is to help end the counter-productive policy of cannabis prohibition by educating the
public about a reality best summarized by the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs in 2002:
"The continued prohibition of cannabis jeopardizes the health and well-being of
Canadians much more than does the substance itself."
For more information, contact:
Keith Fagin: 403-863-2071
Debra Harper: ***-***-****
http://www.CannabisCoalition.ca
- 30
-
Related References:
Bill C-26
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E&Parl=39&Ses=1&Mode=1&Pub=Bill&Doc=C-26_1&File=24
Bill C-26: Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Cannabis Offences
Resource links and proposed sentences chart
http://www.cannabisfacts.ca/mandatoryminimums.html
Canadian cannabis related polling stats
http://frankdiscussion.net/info_statistics.html
Canadian Majority Would Legalize Marijuana
May 13, 2008 - Angus Reid Global Monitor
"53% of Canadians support the legalization of marijuana"
http://www.angusreid.com/polls/view/30688/canadian_majority_would_legalize_marijuana/
Full Report (PDF) http://www.angus-reid.com/uppdf/2008.05.12_Drugs.pdf
Maclean's Poll 2006: What we believe
http://www.macleans.ca/article.jsp?content=20060701_130104_130104
B.C. will need more jail space for pot growers
November 22, 2007 - Vancouver Sun
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/story.html?id=583d5aeb-4e54-4712-935f-14a37b4275ed&k=72082
"You basically need a new prison to facilitate that," said Darryl Plecas, a criminologist at the University
College of the Fraser Valley who has studied marijuana sentencing. "You're going to have hundreds, if not
thousands, of people going to jail who aren't going now."
Tories crack down on drug dealers and grow-ops
November 20, 2007 - CanWest News Service
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/politics/story.html?id=3fd63517-bbbc-4a56-8edbefe26738d417&k=24604
"Drug producers and dealers threaten the safety of our communities, they must face tougher penalties,"said
Justice Minister Rob Nicholson at a press conference following the bill's introduction in the House of
Commons. "We want to put organized crime out of business in this country."
Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs, 2002
"Cannabis: Our Position for a Canadian Public Policy"
http://www.senatereport.ca
"MANDATORY MINIMUM PENALTIES: Their Effects on Crime, Sentencing Disparities, and
Justice System Expenditures"
Department of Justice Canada - Research and Statistics Division - January 2002
http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/rs/rep-rap/2002/rr02_1/rr02_1.pdf