By Peter March, Terry March, tressie@istar.ca, peter.march@stmarys.ca
(Terry March is a philosophical counsellor; Peter March teaches philosophy at Saint Mary’s University.)

POT BATTLE WILL BE LONG

Politicians See No Reason To Risk Their Necks For It

Last week’s column discussed those references to God that occur both in our courts and in the constitution. This week, we’ll address a letter about cannabis and what can be done to change the laws controlling its use.

Dear Terry and Peter: July 1 is Cannabis Day in Canada. What more can the legalization movement do? The truth about cannabis is out - it is a harmless drug and even a good medicine - but still the horrible laws remain. Where do we go from here? - Julie Taylor Dartmouth

Dear Julie: In order to get the anti-cannabis law changed you would have to convince the Liberals changing the law will not lose them votes.

But, in a way, that’s only the steam from the manure pile. Why would the Liberal party get involved in a project that would risk alienating voters?

Given our system for counting votes, governments survive or fall on the basis of tiny shifts in the percentages. So, parties that take controversial positions are parties courting defeat.

Witness the recent NDP treatment of Svend Robinson - disgracing him for having presented a petition which just might - might - offend Christians, a very few Christians.

A very few is too many. Marijuana doesn’t have a chance.

When and why do laws change in Canada? Mysteriously and, in a way, by accident.

Take a similar case: free trade. Was there a popular movement? Did we even hear of an organization pressing for it? No. It just seemed to happen. Why did it happen? We don’t know - probably some business group had the ear of Mulroney, or perhaps it was his own idea.

Take the war

Or take the war against Serbia. A huge effort on the part of our government and millions of dollars were spent very quickly. But who was pressing for this war? Did any organization build up a media/voter push on the topic? No. Apparently Chretien wanted to do it, so we did.

(Marijuananews note: I think that they are overlooking the obvious. NAFTA and the Serbian war were supported by the government of DEAland, as is marijuana prohibition.)

The initiatives for changes in legislation come from places quite hidden from the public eye. Notice what happened in the case of our abortion laws: the Supreme Court ruled the laws unconstitutional and Parliament could not agree on a new law so now there is no law! That’s Parliament: abortion is controversial (voters could be angered) so Parliament refuses to go one way or the other.

It is of absolutely no interest whatsoever to Parliament whether marijuana laws ought to be changed, whether your arguments for legalization are valid or not. The only thing of interest to Parliament is whether changing the law would bring more votes or money. That’s the rub.

And there might be forces, hidden forces, speaking against legalization. For example the alcohol industry, an industry that has been supporting political parties for a century and more. This industry would lobby against legalization and would not hesitate to threaten the party coffers. Next to votes, money is number two on the list of the truly fine things parties respect.
(Marijuananews note: Again I think that they are overlooking the obvious. The real "hidden force" opposing legalization is the RCMP, the Mounties. They lie to the Canadian people and collaborate with DEAland narcs to subvert the freedoms of Canadians.)
See
Canadian Press Links DEAland Military To Closing Of Vancouver’s Cannabis Café;
Narco-imperialism At Work. Canada Should Issue Its Own Declaration Of Independence.
and
Canadian Paper Gives Mounties Free Ride On Prohibitionist Propaganda
On Marijuana Growing; Lying At The Public Expense

We have gotten so far as to get cannabis for the use of some people who need it for medical reasons. That’s a good start. Next we should argue for its use as a general relaxant and as an aid to sleep (it’s certainly better than sedatives and sleeping pills). Finally, we can suggest its use by young people who are at risk of alcohol addiction. It might even be possible to convince addiction counsellors to suggest its use by some alcoholics to provide a more-or-less permanent, relatively harmless substitute for the poison alcohol.

Slow progress

The strategy here is simply to constantly widen the range of medicinal uses. Remember that doctors and therapists today can legitimately deal with any problem a patient brings to them, providing it involves a physical, psychological, or social difficulty. Thus doctors can be encouraged to free up the drug for more widespread use. Doctors know the drug is virtually harmless and they might well come to see that this gentle drug has many good uses.

If we get that far, the battle will have been mostly won. Anyone wanting to use the drug will pretty well be able to get the stuff.

(Marijuananews note: Marijuana users are not the only ones injured by marijuana prohibition.
See
New Zealand Landowner Offers A Different Reason To Oppose Marijuana Prohibition

I think that they are overlooking the determination of the cannabis community. It takes only a very small number of determined people to change things. Canada is nearing critical mass. Also, the evolutionary policy will give the public the worst of all possible worlds, medical marijuana for the middle class and a totally unregulated black market for everyone else.)
See
Ottawa Citizen Practices First Class Journalism
A Brilliantly Insightful Editorial: "Marijuana isn’t just a serious issue. It’s huge."

One final note. We are absolutely not recommending the use of marijuana except for medical purposes. A good, healthy life is lived without drugs.

Whether marijuana has harmful side effects or not, a life lived with a mind as alert as possible, fully in contact with reality is preferable to one in which we are made sleepy, less alert, and somewhat removed from reality.