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Canada - The federal government has reintroduced a bill to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana.
It means persons caught with 15 grams of marijuana or less will face a fine rather than a criminal charge.
"Cannabis use is harmful and it will remain illegal in Canada. What would change is the approach to enforcement," said Justice Minister Irwin Cotler in a news release issued Monday. "We are proposing a more consistent application of our cannabis possession laws."
Previous legislation died when Parliament was dissolved for the June federal election. It had previously died during the changeover from former prime minister Jean Chretien to Prime Minister Paul Martin.
Former justice minister Martin Cauchon, who has left politics, was a champion of the bill.
Martin has spoken in favour of the change, although he had talked in December about possibly lowering the possession limit from 15 grams.
While the U.S. might not like the decriminalization of simple possession, Martin said: "Canada will make its own decisions based on our values."
In a parallel move, the government also introduced legislation that will target drug-impaired driving and promised new laws tougher penalties for those commercially cultivating marijuana.
On cultivation, Cotler said: "New criminal offences and tough sentences are needed to combat the increasing problem of marijuana grow-ops, which pose unacceptable risks to public safety."
He explained the driving related changes this way: "Currently, suspected drivers can volunteer to participate in testing. This legislation will allow the police to require these tests in order to apprehend those suspected of drug-impaired driving."
The feds also committed $6.9 million to help police investigate drug-impaired driving cases, primarily by training officers to recognize the drug-impaired.
It isn't known when these proposed legal changes will become law.
CTV.ca News Staff
https://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1099342659017_94751859/?hub=Canada
It means persons caught with 15 grams of marijuana or less will face a fine rather than a criminal charge.
"Cannabis use is harmful and it will remain illegal in Canada. What would change is the approach to enforcement," said Justice Minister Irwin Cotler in a news release issued Monday. "We are proposing a more consistent application of our cannabis possession laws."
Previous legislation died when Parliament was dissolved for the June federal election. It had previously died during the changeover from former prime minister Jean Chretien to Prime Minister Paul Martin.
Former justice minister Martin Cauchon, who has left politics, was a champion of the bill.
Martin has spoken in favour of the change, although he had talked in December about possibly lowering the possession limit from 15 grams.
While the U.S. might not like the decriminalization of simple possession, Martin said: "Canada will make its own decisions based on our values."
In a parallel move, the government also introduced legislation that will target drug-impaired driving and promised new laws tougher penalties for those commercially cultivating marijuana.
On cultivation, Cotler said: "New criminal offences and tough sentences are needed to combat the increasing problem of marijuana grow-ops, which pose unacceptable risks to public safety."
He explained the driving related changes this way: "Currently, suspected drivers can volunteer to participate in testing. This legislation will allow the police to require these tests in order to apprehend those suspected of drug-impaired driving."
The feds also committed $6.9 million to help police investigate drug-impaired driving cases, primarily by training officers to recognize the drug-impaired.
It isn't known when these proposed legal changes will become law.
CTV.ca News Staff
https://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1099342659017_94751859/?hub=Canada
