CBC

Sat May 19, 6:30 pm

Justice minister "open" to marijuana debate

Federal Justice Minister Anne McLellan says she is "open" to debate the issue of legalizing marijuana. McLellan agrees it is time to re-consider laws regarding illegal "soft" drugs. Her comments come after the Commons passed a unanimous motion to form a committee to look at the issue of non-medical drugs in Canada. McLellan says it's clear Canadians remain divided on the issue. If the government decides to do so, Canada would become only the second Western country after the Netherlands to decriminalize the drug.

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), May 20, 2001

Answers

Great article Rachel, thanks. I don't think it'll ever happen though. Our politicians would lean on them to keep the status quo. Putting people in jail for smoking pot or growing a plant or two is big business.

-- Guy Daley (guydaley1@netzero.net), May 20, 2001.

Guy, as with any country, we don't take kindly to being "leaned on." And we've already legalized it for medicinal purposes.

Actually, I posted the article only because it contained the "m" word and, not having seen spider around for a few days, I thought it might draw him out. :)

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), May 20, 2001.

Hey Rachel, you must have missed the article in the paper but the U.S. Supreme Court overruled medicinal marijuana.

-- Guy Daley (guydaley1@netzero.net), May 20, 2001.

Thanks for the thought Rachel ::::-§

-- spider (spider0@usa.net), May 21, 2001.

Rachel, am I correct in thinking that canada has already legalized industrial hemp production?

-- Cash (cash@andcarry.com), May 21, 2001.

Guy, I'm Canadian.

Spider--it worked!! Good to see you.

Cash, not AFAIK. Industrial hemp products like purses and clothing are sold in stores, especially in Vancouver, but I don't think the growing of it here as been legalized (it was legal at one point in our history, I believe). So far, the only thing legalized has been both the use of and the growing of marijuana for medicinal purposes.

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), May 21, 2001.