Canada didn't decriminalize marijuana — because of the United States?

The To The Contrary segment was about Marijuana Moms. Each story on the PBS public affairs show is followed by a panel discussion.

The guest this week from the right-wing section of the panel was the Rt. Hon. Kim Campbell. The former Prime Minister of Canada also served as the Defense Minister.

Campbell's comments on marijuana raised a few eyebrows:

"It would be great for the Canadian economy because we're huge producers of marijuana... We have actually talked about decriminalizing it, because our criminal law is federal. And it was pressure from the Americans that has kept Canada from decriminalizing possession of marijuana."

At the end of the last Liberal government, when Paul Martin had a minority government, the Liberals were trying to get a law passed that would decriminalize marijuana.

Since the Conservatives have taken over, Canada's reaction to marijuana possession has grown more harsh, not less. As has been noted, "the biggest proposed policy change is mandatory six-month sentencing for those growing as little as one marijuana plant for the purposes of trafficking."

Campbell belongs to the Conservative Party, which is the party in charge. Though to be fair to Campbell, the Conservative Party of 1993, when she served as prime minister, isn't quite like the Conservative Party of today. You almost gathered from the tone she took in the interview that if she were in Parliament today, and she could vote her conscience, Campbell would vote to decriminalize marijuana.

Campbell is from British Columbia, where hemp growth is more apparent than in other parts of the country. This could account for her thoughts on helping the Canadian economy.

The key point is the apparent pressure from the U.S. government. There isn't any reason to believe Campbell is wrong or mistaken.

A country doesn't have a right to put pressure on another country to implement laws. The idea that Canadian citizens, who want a law passed for their own society, can't get that law passed because of factions in another country, violates basic sovereignty.

After all, hemp is now legal in Canada, yet not legal in the United States. If Canadians want marijuana decriminalized, the United States shouldn't stand in its way.

Comments

[matt mernagh]

the story wasn't widely reported...ie no frontpage. but Liberal minister of misjustice Martin Cauchon (sp?) took the decrim bill before it had been tabled in the house of commons to then White House attorney general John Ashcroft. the USA is all over Canada's drug laws.

[Chino]

USA = Puppetmasters. Put up a wall...and lets keep our freedoms and natural resources. U.S. has nothing we want...nothing but power and weapons. Marijuana is a useful plant, not a harsh drug. Lets get rid of alcohol and cigarettes if we really care about our safety!

[Russell Barth]

Face it: we are nothing more than the chick who rides on the back of America's motorcycle.