Pompo

Pot protesters oppose Bill C-26
12/18/07|Leader-Post| by Stefan Schussler, The Leader-Post

A group of protesters gathered at the provincial legislature Monday to protest amendments to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act proposed by the Harper government.

Bill C-26 would see the imposition of mandatory minimum sentences for possession of drugs with the purposes of trafficking.

The protest was part of the National Day of Demonstration protesting marijuana prohibition and Bill C-26. Protesters all around the country were urged to lobby local politicians to demand they end support for the proposed amendments.

Under the proposed bill, mandatory minimum sentences would be imposed where previously there were none. For example, anybody caught producing less than 200 marijuana plants with the intent to traffic would be sentenced to at least six months in jail. The bill includes "aggravating factors" which may increase the minimum sentence. For example, if the offence was committed on or near a school, or any place frequented by people under the age of 18, the minimum sentence would increase to nine months.

Other aggravating factors include the use or threat of use of a weapon, and involving anyone under 18 years in the commission of an offence.

"Our strategy to get tough on illegal drugs really concentrates on the traffickers, on the elements that have relationships with organized crime, with violent offenders, or with youth," said Andrew Scheer, Conservative MP for Regina-Qu'Appelle. "It's not anything out of line with what Canadians want."

Scheer said he believes the bill would make it more difficult to produce and traffic drugs and be associated with organized crime.

However, protesters said that the bill would do little to prevent the darkest parts of the criminal world from dealing marijuana, and punishes small-time dealers and users.

"The profit lies at the core of everything," said protester Jason Green. "Large-scale growers and dealers, this is not deterring them. This is going to increase their profit margins. The price of cannabis is going to shoot up."

Green said that in the United States, where the War on Drugs began, marijuana is the same price as cocaine.

"You put more profit in it, it perpetuates more people dealing," he added.

"Bill C-26 is trying to make marijuana more illegal than it already is. There are more important things they should be worrying about -- like the coke and heroin dealers that are killing people -- than marijuana, which doctors prescribe to help people feel better," said protester Kristin Swenson.

One protester, who identified himself only as Mike, said he turned to growing his own plants to avoid buying it from a dealer.

"(Marijuana) is a stepping-stone because of having to go to an illegal drug user where you are within arms reach of all the other narcotics," he said.

Under the proposed amendments, Mike said he would face the same sentence for the few plants that he grows for personal use, as a person with a larger operation who actually intends to sell.

Other critics point to the fact that some of the aggravating factors are open to immense interpretation, such as what constitutes trafficking, what constitutes an area frequented by minors, and what constitutes a public safety hazard.
Scheer insists that the proposed amendments target organized crime and violent offenders. Offenders who are caught with weapons would face a minimum sentence of one year.

"It's aimed at the darker element of the drug trade," he said, adding the bill does offer those convicted of a drug offence, who do not fall under the aggravating factors, may be given the option of seeking treatment to reduce their sentences.

However, protesters aren't convinced. "If mandatory minimum sentences really helped prevent crimes, the U.S. would be the safest nation in the world, but it's not. What makes us think these draconian measures will have better results in (Canada)?" said protester Pete Jacobson.